appartement

An appartement is a self-contained housing unit that occupies part of a building and is designed for residential living. It provides its own private entrance and typically includes a living room, a kitchen or kitchenette, a bathroom, and one or more bedrooms. Apartments are common in urban settings and can be rented, leased, or owned, often as part of a larger building with shared facilities and a co-ownership structure.

The term comes from French "appartement," ultimately from Italian "appartamento," from Latin roots meaning to set apart or separate. In French, "appartement" distinguishes a dwelling within a building from a detached house; in many other languages the equivalent term is used (apartment, flat).

Variants and layouts: A studio or single-room apartment combines living and sleeping space, with a separate kitchen or kitchenette and a separate bathroom. Larger units are described by the number of main rooms, commonly written as T2, T3, or F2, F3 in Francophone markets, indicating two, three, or more rooms excluding the kitchen. The top-floor variant is often called a penthouse (dernier étage) and may feature a terrace or panoramic views.

Legal and market context: In countries with condominiums or co-ownership, apartments are part of a building where residents share common areas and responsibilities. Real estate listings typically specify the "surface habitable" or usable living area, and in France the Loi Carrez governs the measurement for sale. Tenancy laws regulate leases, deposits, and eviction procedures.