A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "The zipper is broken" in French
Tell a shopkeeper the zipper on an item of clothing or a bag isn't working.
La fermeture éclair est cassée.
lah fer-muh-TOOR ek-LEHR eh kah-SAYneutral
French TTS · 0:01
You've found a great item in a clothing store or a market, but notice the zipper is faulty. Point it out to the salesperson so they can either get you another one or offer a discount.
Alternatives
- Le zip est cassé.More casual, using the English loanword 'zip'.
- La glissière est cassée.Less common, 'glissière' is another word for zipper.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'fermeture'
Don't pronounce the final 'e' in 'fermeture'; it's silent.
Gender of 'fermeture'
'Fermeture' is feminine, so use 'la' and 'cassée' with an extra 'e'.
The French 'R'
The 'r' sound in 'fermeture' and 'éclair' is guttural, made in the back of the throat, not rolled.
A small cultural note
While 'fermeture éclair' is the standard term, many people, especially younger generations, will just say 'le zip' (pronounced 'zeep').
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say zipper in French?
The most common term is 'la fermeture éclair'. You might also hear the casual 'le zip'.
What if only part of the zipper is broken?
You can say 'La fermeture éclair est abîmée' (the zipper is damaged) or 'Elle ne ferme pas bien' (it doesn't close well).
Can I say 'le zipper est cassé'?
While understandable, 'zipper' is English. French speakers usually use 'fermeture éclair' or the loanword 'zip'.
