cellophane
/sɛ.lɔ.fan/feminine
The English phrase cellophane is translated into French as cellophane.
The term refers to the transparent plastic film.
Meaning: the transparent plastic film (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /sɛ.lɔ.fan/.
Did you know?
- In French, cellophane specifically refers to the noisy, crinkly film. For the stretchy plastic wrap used for food, French speakers often use the term film étirable.
- The word cellophane is a genericized trademark, meaning it originated as a specific brand name before becoming the common term for the material in French.
- French describes the sound of cellophane as froisser, which means to crumple. This verb is used for both paper and plastic to describe that specific sharp noise.
Examples in context
- J'ai horreur du son que la cellophane produit lorsqu'on la froisse.I hate the sound that cellophane makes when you crinkle it.This sentence is useful for describing the sound made when crinkling cellophane.Tatoeba #1650664 by sacredceltic, translation #1648102 by darinmex
- Il faut enlever la cellophane de la boîte.You need to remove the cellophane from the box.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are preparing food in the kitchen.
- EmmaOù est la cellophane, Hugo ?Where is the cellophane, Hugo?
- HugoElle est dans le tiroir du bas.It is in the bottom drawer.
- EmmaMerci, je vais emballer le reste du gâteau.Thanks, I'm going to wrap the rest of the cake.
- HugoD'accord, je m'occupe de la vaisselle.Okay, I'll take care of the dishes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cellophane” translations and entries cellophane, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cellophane, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
