côlon
/ko.lɔ̃/
In French, the word for colon is côlon.
The word côlon is used specifically to refer to the large intestine in an anatomical context.
Meaning: punctuation mark (noun)
Which one should you use?
côlon refers exclusively to the anatomy, whereas the punctuation mark is called deux-points.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ko.lɔ̃/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use côlon to refer to the punctuation mark. In French, you must use deux-points instead.
Did you know?
- If a French speaker describes a 'colon' in a literary sense, they are referring to a côlon, which is a specific rhythmic unit or clause in classical poetry.
- The English word 'colon' and the French anatomical word côlon both descend from the Greek word kólon, which originally meant 'limb' or 'member' of a body.
- The French name for the punctuation mark, deux-points, literally translates to 'two points'.
Examples in context
- Quand tu rédiges une liste, n'oublie pas de mettre deux petits points avant les éléments.When writing a list, don't forget to put a colon before the items.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are proofreading a text together.
- EmmaGabriel, regarde cette phrase.Gabriel, look at this sentence.
- GabrielQu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?What is wrong with it?
- EmmaOn doit remplacer le point par un côlon.We must replace the period with a colon.
- GabrielTu as raison, je le change.You are right, I will change it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry côlon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries côlon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
