boucle
/bukl/feminine
The English word buckle corresponds to the French noun boucle.
As a noun, boucle refers to a metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike. You can also use the idiom boucler la boucle to mean completing a cycle or closing a loop. If you wish to express the action of fastening something with a buckle or fastening something in any way, use the verb boucler.
Meaning: metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun boucle is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/bukl/
Did you know?
- The French verb boucler is used in slang to mean 'to shut up'. Telling someone boucle-la is a blunt way of telling them to stop talking.
- The word boucle originally referred to the strap around a soldier's cheek under a helmet. It comes from the Latin word for 'cheek', specifically the diminutive form buccula.
- The word boucle is also the standard French word for a 'curl' or 'loop' of hair. Because of this, a person with curly hair is described as having des boucles.
Examples in context
- Boucle ta ceinture !Buckle up!Tatoeba #7801727 by theachaean, translation #6614794 by Eccles17
- C'est la loi : vous devez toujours boucler votre ceinture de sécurité en voiture ou en avion.It's the law: always buckle your safety belt in cars and airplanes.Tatoeba #682898 by Paiooooo, translation #265572 by AlanF_US
- N'oublie pas de clipser ta ceinture de sécurité avant de partir en voiture.Don't forget to buckle up your seatbelt before driving.
- La boucle de son sac est cassée.The buckle on her bag is broken.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are looking at a broken leather belt.
- LéaRegarde, la boucle de cette ceinture est tordue.Look, the buckle of this belt is bent.
- HugoEst-ce que tu peux la réparer, Léa ?Can you repair it, Léa?
- LéaNon, il faut changer la boucle entière.No, the whole buckle needs to be changed.
- HugoC'est dommage pour ce beau cuir.That is a shame for this beautiful leather.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buckle” translations and entries boucle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boucle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
