appareil dentaire
/a.pa.ʁɛj dɑ̃.tɛʁ/masculine
The English phrase "braces" (referring to the device for straightening teeth) is translated into French as appareil dentaire. Wiktionary also lists faux-palais and appareil.
Meaning: device for straightening teeth (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| appareil dentaire | /a.pa.ʁɛj dɑ̃.tɛʁ/ | masculine |
| faux-palais | /fo.pa.lɛ/ | |
| appareil | /a.pa.ʁɛj/ | masculine |
| appareil orthodontique | masculine |
The most common way to express the idea of dental braces is appareil dentaire. When describing someone who currently has them in their mouth, French uses the verb porter (to wear) rather than avoir (to have).
Which one should you use?
While appareil dentaire is the standard term used by the general public, you may encounter other forms. In professional or medical contexts, the technical term appareil orthodontique is used. In casual conversation, people often shorten the phrase to just appareil.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.pa.ʁɛj dɑ̃.tɛʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the word bretelles to refer to dental braces. In French, bretelles refers to clothing suspenders or braces.
Did you know?
- The word appareil is used for a vast range of devices, from a coffee machine to a hearing aid and even a diving suit.
- The term appareil can also refer to the complexion or the overall 'look' of a person's face in older literary French.
- The word appareil shares a linguistic root with the English word 'apparatus'. Both stems trace back to the idea of being 'prepared' or 'fitted' for a specific purpose.
Examples in context
- Tom a un appareil dentaire.Tom has braces.This sentence shows how to say someone has braces using appareil dentaire.Tatoeba #5389546 by Aiji, translation #3090030 by CK
- Il porte un appareil dentaire.He is wearing braces.This sentence demonstrates the use of the verb to wear with appareil dentaire.Tatoeba #8640896 by Julien_PDC, translation #11669914 by tieguy
- Depuis qu'elle porte un appareil dentaire, je l'ai à peine vue sourire.Since she got her braces, I've hardly seen her smile.This sentence provides context for how wearing an appareil dentaire might affect someone's smile.Tatoeba #960255 by sacredceltic, translation #723223 by darinmex
- J'ai un appareil dentaire pour aligner mes dents.I have braces to align my teeth.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking at a café about dental care.
- LucasEst-ce que ton frère porte un appareil dentaire ?Is your brother wearing braces?
- ManonOui, il a un nouvel appareil dentaire.Yes, he has a new set of braces.
- LucasC'est douloureux d'avoir un appareil dentaire ?Is it painful to have braces?
- ManonUn peu, mais c'est pour la bonne cause.A little, but it's for a good cause.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “braces” translations and entries appareil dentaire, faux-palais, appareil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries appareil, faux-palais, orthodontique, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
