bouteille
/bu.tɛj/feminine
The French word for bottle is bouteille.
For more specialized or formal contexts, such as a small bottle of perfume or medicine, the word flacon is used. If you are referring specifically to a baby's feeding bottle, use the word biberon instead.
Meaning: container (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, so you should use the feminine indefinite article une (as in une bouteille) rather than the masculine un.
How do you pronounce it?
/bu.tɛj/
Did you know?
- A bouteille can refer to a person's 'experience' or 'age' in the slang expression avoir de la bouteille, suggesting they have aged like a fine wine.
- The word bouteille traces back to the Late Latin word butticula, which was a diminutive form of 'butt' or 'cask'.
- If you are at a restaurant and want to ask for a bottle of water, you might say une bouteille d'eau, but if you want a carafe of tap water, you should ask for une carafe d'eau.
Examples in context
- Lâche la bouteille !Let go of the bottle.This sentence shows how to command someone to release the bouteille.Tatoeba #4551167 by sacredceltic, translation #3528367 by CK
- Tom a bu à la bouteille.Tom drank straight from the bottle.This sentence describes someone drinking from the bouteille.Tatoeba #5825508 by Aiji, translation #3158083 by CK
- La bouteille est pleine.The bottle is full.This sentence describes the state of the bouteille.Tatoeba #6837782 by GB3, translation #2002555 by bichodebola
- La bouteille de vinThe bottle of wine
- La bouteille d'eau minéraleThe bottle of mineral water
- Le flacon de parfumThe perfume bottle
- Le flacon de siropThe bottle of syrup
- Le bidon d'essenceThe gas canister
- Le bidon d'eauThe water jug
- On se boit une bibine?Shall we have a bottle of beer?
- 216 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are in the kitchen.
- GabrielOù est la bouteille d'eau ?Where is the water bottle?
- ChloéElle est sur la table.It is on the table.
- GabrielMerci, Chloé.Thanks, Chloé.
- ChloéDe rien, Gabriel.You're welcome, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bottle” translations and entries bouteille, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bouteille, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
