Glossary

Your mason, your contractor, and your quotations will use these words, not the English ones. Being able to follow a site conversation is the cheapest quality control you have.

There is no checklist on this page — it is a reference. Come back to it while reading Construction Starter Guide and The Construction Phases.

Structural & Foundation Terms

Local Term (Creole / French)	English Equivalent	Explanation
Fondation / Fondasion	Foundation	The base of a building, transfers load to the ground.
Semelle	Strip footing	Concrete footing under walls or columns.
Radier	Raft foundation	Large slab foundation covering the whole building area.
Colonne	Column	Vertical reinforced concrete element for load-bearing.
Poutre	Beam	Horizontal reinforced concrete element to span openings or support slabs.
Dalle	Slab	Horizontal reinforced concrete surface (floor/roof).
Bloc / Blok	Hollow concrete block	Main wall unit in construction (usually 150 mm or 200 mm thick).
Mur	Wall	Could be block, stone, or brick.
Linteau	Lintel	Reinforced concrete beam above doors and windows to support load above.

Concrete, Steel & Masonry

Local Term	English Equivalent	Explanation
Béton	Concrete	Mixture of cement, sand, aggregate, and water.
Mortier	Mortar	Cement + sand + water mix used for block laying.
Chape	Screed	Thin layer of mortar for floor leveling.
Coffrage	Formwork/Shuttering	Temporary mould to shape poured concrete.
Coulage	Pouring	The act of pouring concrete into formwork.
Féraille / Fer à béton	Reinforcement steel (rebar)	Steel rods for concrete strength.
Fer 8 / Fer 12 / Fer 16	Rebar size in mm	Diameter of the steel rods.
Treillis soudé	Welded mesh	Steel mesh used in slabs.
Lassize	Concrete topping / base strip	A reinforced concrete strip at the base of walls or columns, often to tie the structure and prevent moisture ingress.

Materials & Aggregates

Local Term	English Equivalent	Explanation
Ciment	Cement	Binding powder (brands: Kolos, Baobab).
Rocksand	Manufactured sand	Fine crushed stone dust, used as a substitute for river sand in concrete and plaster.
Macadam	Crushed stone aggregate	Larger graded crushed stones used in road base, drainage, or heavy-duty concrete.
flemme	Plum	Used for mass backfilling, retaining walls, or large foundation support.
Crusher run	Mixed aggregate with fines	A blend of crushed stone and stone dust, used for compacted sub-base in driveways, slabs, and roads.

Measurements & Units

Local Term	English Equivalent	Notes
Pouce	Inch	Common for doors/windows (e.g., “32 pouces” ≈ 81 cm).
Pied	Foot	Rare but used by some older workers.
Mètre	Meter	Standard for most measurements.
Fer 8 / 12 / 16	8 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm steel	Size of rebar.