How to Say "Chatelaine" in French

châtelaine

/ʃat.lɛn/

The English phrase 'chatelaine' is translated into French as châtelaine.

The term refers to a mistress of a castle or a large household.

Meaning: mistress of a castle or large household (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is derived from château (castle) combined with the suffix -aine, which denotes a female person associated with that place.

The feminine form is châtelaine, while the masculine form for a master of a castle or large household is châtelain.

It is pronounced /ʃat.lɛn/. It has 2 syllables.

A châtelaine also refers to a decorative belt hook or a small set of keys attached to a woman's clothing, which was once a common way to carry household essentials.
In old French legal customs, the châtelaine could sometimes exercise judicial powers over the inhabitants of the castle's lands when the châtelain was away.
In modern French, a woman is rarely called a châtelaine unless she is actually living in a literal castle. Using the term for a regular person today would sound highly poetic or even mockingly old-fashioned.

La dame du château porte les clés de toutes les pièces.
The chatelaine carries the keys to all the rooms.
La maîtresse du château organise une réception inoubliable.
The chatelaine is organizing an unforgettable reception.
La châtelaine veille sur le domaine.
The chatelaine watches over the estate.
Elle est la châtelaine de ce grand château.
She is the mistress of this large castle.
Une jeune châtelaine dirige la maison.
A young chatelaine manages the household.

Two people are discussing a historical novel in a library.

Chloé

Est-ce qu'elle est la châtelaine dans l'histoire ?
Is she the chatelaine in the story?
Gabriel

Oui, elle est la châtelaine du château.
Yes, she is the mistress of the castle.
Chloé

C'est un rôle très important pour elle.
It is a very important role for her.
Gabriel

Exactement, elle gère tout le domaine.
Exactly, she manages the whole estate.

Sources

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