Activités en français dans les bibliothèques de Toronto

What does “bricolage” mean in French?

In this library talk, the host mentions “ateliers de bricolage” — craft workshops for kids. For children, bricolage means cutting, gluing, and making things by hand. But the same word covers adult life too: fixing a shelf, painting a wall, small weekend projects at home. A child does bricolage with paper; a parent does bricolage with a drill. In France, large DIY stores are even called “magasins de bricolage.”

From the transcript: « il y a des places limitées pour certains ateliers, comme pour les ateliers, certains ateliers scientifiques et de bricolage » — “there are limited spots for some workshops, like science and craft workshops.” For kids, “bricolage” = arts and crafts (paper, glue, scissors). The word comes from the verb “bricoler,” to tinker or do small tasks. A person who does it is “un bricoleur” / “une bricoleuse” — someone handy around the house. For adults, “faire du bricolage” or “bricoler” usually means small home repairs: “Mon père adore bricoler le week-end” (My dad loves doing DIY on weekends). One more sense: “bricolage” can carry a light negative meaning — something fixed in a rough, quick way. “C’est du bricolage” can mean “it’s a patch-up job, not a real fix.” Context tells you which meaning applies.