bail

lease, rental agreement

noun BYE Less Common

Usage Note

Bail is a legal term for a lease or tenancy agreement. Its irregular plural is baux (pronounced 'boh'). Colloquially in verlan slang, bail (pronounced 'bye') can also mean 'thing, situation' (c'est quoi ce bail ? = 'what's this situation?'), though this is informal street French.

Examples

"Elle a signé un bail de trois ans pour l'appartement."

Natural Translation

She signed a three-year lease for the flat.

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