French Word of the Day: Dératisation
If you plan to take on the 3-6 million rats living in Paris, this is word might come in handy.
Why do I need to know dératisation?
Because rats are everywhere.
What does it mean?
Dératisation, pronounced day-rat-isa-shon, is a name given to the process of exterminating rats, systematically within a pre-defined area. It is sometimes used to talk about rodent control more widely.
As a verb, you can say dératiser if to talk about the action of exterminating rats.
Estimates for the number of rats in France vary widely, but most dératisation experts believe the number is 3-6 million in Paris alone.
Globally there are more than 60 recognised species of rat. A female rate can have up to 55 babies per year. A newborn female rat becomes fertile at two months old. A couple of rates can produce some 5,000 descendants in a single year, which is why it is so hard to keep their numbers under control.
Shops specialised in dératisation are common in France. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP)
The City of Paris has launched an app called Dans Ma Rue where you can signal a rat sighting to the competent authorities. This technological approach does not seemed to have worked though. Despite making more than 7,000 "interventions" every year, local authorities concede that there has been a "surge" in rat numbers in some parts of the capital.
Use it like this
Un plan de dératisation a été lancé par la direction - A rat extermination was launched by the management
Une entreprise spécialisée dans la dératisation a été appelée pour faire un diagnostic complet - A business specialising in rodent control has been called to do a complete assessment
Deux opérations de dératisation ont eu lieu - Two vermin control operations took place
On va dératiser ce bâtiment - We are going to exterminate the rats in this building
Related vocabulary
un raticide - a rat poison
des produits anti-parasitaires - pest control products
un piège - a trap
les nuisibles - pests
le rongeur - the rodent
un service de dératisation - a rat extermination service
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Why do I need to know dératisation?
Because rats are everywhere.
What does it mean?
Dératisation, pronounced day-rat-isa-shon, is a name given to the process of exterminating rats, systematically within a pre-defined area. It is sometimes used to talk about rodent control more widely.
As a verb, you can say dératiser if to talk about the action of exterminating rats.
Estimates for the number of rats in France vary widely, but most dératisation experts believe the number is 3-6 million in Paris alone.
Globally there are more than 60 recognised species of rat. A female rate can have up to 55 babies per year. A newborn female rat becomes fertile at two months old. A couple of rates can produce some 5,000 descendants in a single year, which is why it is so hard to keep their numbers under control.
The City of Paris has launched an app called Dans Ma Rue where you can signal a rat sighting to the competent authorities. This technological approach does not seemed to have worked though. Despite making more than 7,000 "interventions" every year, local authorities concede that there has been a "surge" in rat numbers in some parts of the capital.
Use it like this
Un plan de dératisation a été lancé par la direction - A rat extermination was launched by the management
Une entreprise spécialisée dans la dératisation a été appelée pour faire un diagnostic complet - A business specialising in rodent control has been called to do a complete assessment
Deux opérations de dératisation ont eu lieu - Two vermin control operations took place
On va dératiser ce bâtiment - We are going to exterminate the rats in this building
Related vocabulary
un raticide - a rat poison
des produits anti-parasitaires - pest control products
un piège - a trap
les nuisibles - pests
le rongeur - the rodent
un service de dératisation - a rat extermination service
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