sous un maison

Using this phrase is a breeze! You just need a verb and then sous une maison. For example, if you see a ball roll away, you would say it went sous une maison. One tiny but huge detail: maison is a feminine word. So, you must use une or la. Even though you might see un maison in some beginner mistakes, always remember to use the feminine form. It is like saying "a apple" in English—people will understand, but it sounds a bit off. Just pair it with verbs like aller (to go), être (to be), or se cacher (to hide). It is a simple building block for your French sentences.

This is your go-to phrase for physical locations. Use it when you are talking to a plumber about a pipe leak. Use it when you are playing hide-and-seek with your kids in the backyard. It is also very useful if you live in an area with houses on stilts or raised foundations. If you are texting a friend because your dog escaped and is hiding under the neighbor’s porch, this is the phrase you need. It is practical, grounded, and very common in everyday life, especially in rural areas where houses aren't just flat slabs of concrete.

Don’t use this if you are actually inside the building. If you are in the living room, you are dans la maison. If you are at someone’s home for dinner, you are chez them. Also, do not confuse it with dessous. While dessous also means under, it is usually used as an adverb at the end of a sentence without a noun following it. For example, "Look underneath" is Regarde dessous. But "Under the house" is Sous la maison. Keep sous for when you have a noun coming right after it. Using the wrong one is a classic giveaway that you are still a beginner!

France has a long and fascinating history of architecture. In many old villages, houses are built over ancient stone cellars called caves. These aren't just dark, scary basements; they are part of the soul of the home. People store their best wine, aged cheeses, and family history there. Sometimes, being sous une maison in France might even mean you are standing in a network of medieval tunnels! In the south of France, you might find a vide sanitaire, which is a shallow crawl space designed to keep the house dry and cool. Understanding what is under a French house is like uncovering a little bit of hidden history.

You will often hear sous la maison when talking about a specific, known house. If the space is a finished, livable basement, French speakers will use au sous-sol. If you are talking about being downstairs in general, you would say en bas. Another fun variation is sous le toit, which means "under the roof" (the attic). French speakers love being specific about where they are in a building, so knowing these levels helps you navigate a conversation like a pro!