récolteuse de coton
In French, "cotton picker" is récolteuse de coton.
The phrase refers to someone who harvests cotton.
Meaning: someone who harvests cotton (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of récolteuse (harvester/picker) and de coton (of cotton).
Which one should you use?
A common alternative is cueilleur de coton, which uses the verb cueillir (to pick or gather) instead of récolter (to harvest).
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form récolteuse de coton can be replaced with the masculine récolteur de coton if referring to a male worker.
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might use 'cotton picker' to describe a person, using récolteuse de coton in French will almost certainly lead a listener to picture a large mechanical harvester rather than a human.
- The word coton is a linguistic traveler that entered French via Italian and originally came from the Arabic word quṭun.
- French distinguishes between different types of gathering, using récolter for a crop harvest and cueillir for individual items like flowers or berries.
Examples in context
- Mon grand-père a travaillé comme récolteur de coton pendant de nombreuses années.My grandfather worked as a cotton picker for many years.
- Les cueilleurs de coton travaillent dur pendant la saison de récolte.The cotton pickers work hard during the harvest season.
- Les ramasseurs de coton doivent faire attention aux épines des plants.The cotton pickers must be careful of the plants' thorns.
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are discussing a documentary about farming.
- NathanQui est cette femme dans le film ?Who is this woman in the movie?
- ManonC'est une récolteuse de coton.She is a cotton picker.
- NathanEst-ce que c'est un travail difficile ?Is it a difficult job?
- ManonOui, Manon sait que c'est épuisant.Yes, Manon knows it is exhausting.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coton, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
