maison

maison [mɛzɔ̃] nf (= bâtiment) → house (= chez-soi); home;

(Comm) → firm (= famille);

ami de la maison → friend of the family adj inv (Culin) → home-made: (au restaurant) → made by the chef;

(Comm) → in-house, own;

(fam) → first-rate;

à la maison → at home;

(direction) → home;

maison d'arrêt → (short-stay) prison;

maison centrale → prison;

maison close → brothel;

maison de correction → remand home (Brit); reformatory (US);

maison de la culture → arts centre;

maison des jeunes → youth club;

maison mère → parent company;

maison de passe = maison close;

maison de repos → convalescent home;

maison de retraite → old people's home;

maison de santé → mental home

Maisons des jeunes

Maisons des jeunes et de la culture are centres for young people which combine the functions of youth club and community arts centre. They organize a wide range of sporting and cultural activities (theatre, music, exhibitions), and their members also help out in the community. The centres receive some of their funding from the state.