What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
escritoire
Example
She sat down at the escritoire to write a letter. [escritoire: noun]
Example
The escritoire was filled with old letters and documents. [escritoire: noun]
bureau
Example
He kept his files and documents in the bureau. [bureau: noun]
Example
She worked at her bureau for hours, finishing up her report. [bureau: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bureau is more commonly used than escritoire in everyday language. Bureau is a versatile piece of furniture that can be used for various tasks, while escritoire is less common and refers specifically to a writing desk.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between escritoire and bureau?
Both escritoire and bureau can be used in formal or informal contexts, but bureau is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
