Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| soutien-gorge | /su.tjɛ̃.ɡɔʁʒ/ | masculine |
| soutif | /su.tif/ | common |
| brassière | /bʁa.sjɛʁ/ | dated, feminine |
The term is used to refer to a brassiere. You can use it in various specific contexts, such as un soutien-gorge push-up for a push-up bra, un soutien-gorge sans bretelles for a strapless bra or un soutien-gorge de sport for a sports bra.
What does it mean word for word?
The compound soutien-gorge comes from soutien (support) and gorge (throat/neck/chest area).
Which one should you use?
Soutien-gorge is the standard, neutral term used in most contexts. Soutif is a common, colloquial shortening of the word. Brassière is an older term that is less commonly used in modern everyday French for a standard bra.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Soutien-gorge is the standard term. Soutif is an informal, colloquial version. Brassière is considered dated.
How does it change in a sentence?
Although it describes a feminine garment, soutien-gorge is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/su.tjɛ̃.ɡɔʁʒ/
Did you know?
- The word brassière originally described a protective lining used inside armor to shield the arm.
- Using the word brassière today often implies a specific style of crop top or a baby's garment rather than a standard underwire bra.
- While the garment is worn on the breasts, the word soutien-gorge literally translates to 'support-throat'.
Examples in context
- J'ai retiré son soutif.I removed her bra.This sentence is useful for practicing the form soutif.Tatoeba #10668419 by AutoBot, translation #10668417 by AutoBot
- Elle enlève son soutien-gorge.She's removing her bra.This sentence is useful for practicing the form soutien-gorge.Tatoeba #10670744 by lbdx, translation #10668733 by felidad
- Marie ne met jamais de soutien-gorge.Mary never wears a bra.Tatoeba #6131808 by Blabla, translation #6133846 by Blabla
- Je vais acheter un soutien-gorge aujourd'hui.I'm going to buy a bra today.
- Je ne trouve pas mon soutien-gorge préféré.I can't find my favorite bra.
- J'adore ce soutien-gorge noir, il est très élégant.I love this black bra, it's very elegant.
- Quel soutien-gorge recommandes-tu pour un bon maintien?Which bra do you recommend for good support?
- Je porte du 90C.I wear a 90C.
- Je dois trouver ma taille de soutien-gorge.I need to find my bra size.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon is shopping for clothes in a boutique.
- LucasEst-ce que tu as trouvé un nouveau soutien-gorge ?Did you find a new bra?
- ManonOui, j'ai acheté ce soutien-gorge bleu.Yes, I bought this blue bra.
- LucasIl te va très bien, Manon.It suits you very well, Manon.
- ManonMerci, c'est très confortable.Thank you, it is very comfortable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bra” translations and entries soutien-gorge, soutif, brassière, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brassière, soutif, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
