Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| décapsuleur | /de.kap.sy.lœʁ/ | masculine |
| ouvre-bouteille | /u.vʁə.bu.tɛj/ | masculine |
décapsuleur refers specifically to a tool used to remove metal crown caps, such as those found on beer bottles.
What does it mean word for word?
The word décapsuleur is derived from the verb décapsuler, which means "to remove a cap".
Which one should you use?
While both terms translate to "bottle opener", décapsuleur is used specifically for openers designed for metal crown caps. In contrast, ouvre-bouteille is a more general term that can include various types of openers, such as corkscrews.
How does it change in a sentence?
The compound noun ouvre-bouteille is often written with an 's' at the end of bouteille in modern usage, though both forms are seen.
How do you pronounce it?
The word décapsuleur is pronounced /de.kap.sy.lœʁ/ and consists of 4 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you are looking for a device to open wine bottles with corks, do not use décapsuleur. Use tire-bouchon instead.
Did you know?
- The word décapsuleur is a morphological relative of the English word 'capsule'. While an English 'capsule' is a small container, the French 'capsule' specifically refers to the metal crown cap on a bottle.
- If you ask a French waiter for a décapsuleur while dining at a high-end restaurant, they might look confused. In elegant settings, most bottles are opened with a tire-bouchon or a specialized waiter's tool, as the décapsuleur sounds a bit too casual and industrial.
- The suffix -eur in décapsuleur is a common French pattern used to turn an action into a tool, similar to how 'computer' is formed in English.
Examples in context
- Est-ce un décapsuleur ?Is that a bottle opener?This sentence is useful for asking if an object is a décapsuleur.Tatoeba #5382917 by Aiji, translation #3396442 by CK
- Où est le décapsuleur ?Where's the bottle opener?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a décapsuleur.Tatoeba #11379265 by lbdx, translation #4013964 by CK
- J'ai besoin d'un décapsuleur.I need a bottle opener.This sentence is useful for expressing a need for a décapsuleur.Tatoeba #12457971 by lbdx, translation #6532089 by CK
- Est-ce que vous avez un ouvre-bouteille ?Do you have a bottle opener?
- Avez-vous un décapsuleur pour ouvrir cette bière ?Do you have a bottle opener to open this beer?
- Oui, voici un décapsuleur.Yes, here's a bottle opener.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo est en train d'ouvrir une boisson à une fête.
- LéaHugo, tu as un décapsuleur ?Hugo, do you have a bottle opener?
- HugoNon, je n'ai pas de décapsuleur sur moi.No, I don't have a bottle opener on me.
- LéaEst-ce que quelqu'un en a un ?Does anyone have one?
- HugoJe vais chercher le mien dans la cuisine.I will go get mine from the kitchen.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bottle opener” translations and entries décapsuleur, ouvre-bouteille, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries décapsuleur, ouvre-bouteille, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
