botte
/bɔt/feminine
The French word for boot is botte. If unsure, use botte. Wiktionary also lists bottine.
Meaning: heavy shoe that covers part of the leg (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| botte | /bɔt/ | feminine |
| bottine | /bɔ.tin/ | feminine |
The term refers to a heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. In computing, if you wish to say 'to boot' (meaning to start up a system), you can use amorcer, démarrer or the slang anglicism booter. If you are referring to being ejected from an online service, use déconnecter.
Which one should you use?
botte is the standard term for a boot, while bottine refers to a smaller boot. In a computing context, booter is used as slang to mean starting a system.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both botte and bottine are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔt/
Did you know?
- The French expression botter en touche means to avoid answering a question or to evade a subject, inspired by a rule in rugby.
- In the phrase la botte secrète, the word botte refers to a secret weapon or a hidden trick up one's sleeve, not actual footwear.
- The word botte can also mean a bundle of things, such as a bunch of carrots or a sheaf of wheat, which is a botte de carottes.
Examples in context
- Le chien a rongé ma botte.The dog chewed up my boot.This sentence shows the use of botte.Tatoeba #11146251 by Aiji, translation #2452102 by mariquet
- une botte à bièreA boot-shaped beer glassThis sentence shows how botte can describe the shape of an object.
- Tom est un lèche-bottes.Tom is a boot-licker.This sentence shows how botte is used in the informal compound noun lèche-bottes.Tatoeba #11945622 by Fenrir, translation #11945650 by Fenrir
- La botte que vous portez est très élégante.The boot you're wearing is very elegant.
- J'ai acheté une paire de bottines en cuir.I bought a pair of leather booties.
- Il a enfilé ses brodequins pour la randonnée dans les Ardennes.He put on his military boots for the hike in the Ardennes.
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are getting ready for a walk in the rain.
- NathanOù est ma botte gauche ?Where is my left boot?
- EmmaElle est près de la porte, Nathan.It is near the door, Nathan.
- NathanMerci, j'ai besoin de chaque botte.Thanks, I need each boot.
- EmmaMets ta botte et allons-y !Put on your boot and let's go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boot” translations and entries botte, bottine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
