poignet
/pwa.ɲɛ/
The English word 'cuff' can be translated into French as poignet.
While poignet refers to the anatomical wrist, manchette is the specific technical term for the fabric cuff of a shirt or sleeve. Additionally, le revers is a common term for a cuff in French, specifically referring to the turned-back portion at the end of a sleeve.
Meaning: the end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word poignet is pronounced /pwa.ɲɛ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While manchette means 'cuff', it is also the standard French term for a 'lead paragraph' or 'teaser' at the top of a newspaper article.
- The word poignet is a diminutive of poing, meaning 'fist'. Literally, the French word for 'wrist' is a 'little fist'.
- In the world of jewelry, a wide, rigid bracelet that wraps around the wrist is called a manchette, mirroring the English 'cuff bracelet'.
Examples in context
- La couturière a apporté quelques modifications aux poignets de ma veste.The seamstress made some alterations to the cuffs of my jacket.
- Je préfère les t-shirts avec un bord-côte élastique.I prefer t-shirts with an elastic cuff.
Example conversation
Hugo is getting dressed for a formal event.
- HugoLéa, peux-tu m'aider avec mon poignet ?Léa, can you help me with my cuff?
- LéaOui, le bouton est difficile à fermer.Yes, the button is hard to close.
- HugoMerci, c'est beaucoup plus confortable maintenant.Thanks, it is much more comfortable now.
- LéaDe rien, Hugo, tu es très élégant.You're welcome, Hugo, you look very elegant.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry poignet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poignet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
