hache
/aʃ/feminine
The English word axe is translated into French as hache. Wiktionary also lists cognée.
Meaning: tool (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hache | /aʃ/ /haʃ/ (Louisiana) |
feminine |
| cognée | /kɔ.ɲe/ | feminine |
The word refers to the tool known as an axe.
Which one should you use?
While hache is the general term for an axe, cognée is a more specific, technical term often used in forestry or woodworking to refer to a tool used for chopping or hewing.
How do you pronounce it?
/aʃ/
Did you know?
- The word hache is used in the French term hache-pipe, which refers to a specialized tool for cleaning smoking pipes.
- The word hache comes from the Frankish word *happjā, rather than from Latin. This makes it a linguistic relative of the Germanic languages instead of the Latin roots typical of much of French.
- In French history, the hache was not just a tool but a symbol of authority and execution. It appears frequently in historical accounts of the 'Ancien Régime' as a tool of judicial punishment.
Examples in context
- Je dois aller faire aiguiser ma hache.I have to go get my axe sharpened.This sentence is useful for talking about sharpening your hache.Tatoeba #8741285 by Julien_PDC, translation #10480378 by Lebensfreude
- Nous coupons les arbres avec une hache.We cut trees with an axe.This sentence is useful for describing how to cut trees with a hache.Tatoeba #6798861 by Micsmithel, translation #3676537 by sundown
- Il utilise une hache pour fendre le bois.He uses an axe to split the wood.This sentence is useful for explaining how someone uses a hache to split wood.Tatoeba #9987225 by lbdx, translation #8346021 by Cxom
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are preparing for a camping trip.
- EmmaLucas, as-tu trouvé la hache ?Lucas, did you find the axe?
- LucasOui, elle est dans le coffre.Yes, it is in the trunk.
- EmmaEst-ce qu'elle est tranchante ?Is it sharp?
- LucasJe vais vérifier cela.I will check that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “axe” translations and entries hache, cognée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cognée, hache, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
