cheville
/ʃə.vij/feminine
The English word 'dowel' is translated into French as cheville.
In a woodworking context, cheville refers specifically to the wooden pin used to join two pieces of wood.
Meaning: piece of wood fitted into a surface (noun)
Which one should you use?
Another formal term for 'dowel' is tourillon, which specifically refers to a dowel used in joinery or cabinetmaking. While cheville can mean 'ankle' in a biological context, in a hardware or construction context, it refers to a dowel or a wall plug.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cheville is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃə.vij/
Did you know?
- The term cheville is a linguistic relative of the English word 'clavicle', as both derive from the Latin word for 'little key'.
- In the context of music, specifically regarding certain types of instruments, cheville can refer to the 'peg' used to tune the strings.
- While a 'dowel' is a single wooden pin, the French word cheville is also the standard term for a 'wall plug' used to secure screws in masonry.
Examples in context
- Je vais utiliser des chevilles pour assembler les morceaux de bois.I will use dowels to assemble the pieces of wood.
- J'ai besoin d'un tourillon de bois pour renforcer cette structure.I need a wooden dowel to reinforce this structure.
- Utilisons une goupille en acier pour fixer ces deux pièces.Let's use a steel dowel to fix these two pieces.
- Il faut insérer ces tiges pour assembler correctement les éléments.These rods need to be inserted to properly assemble the elements.
- Il faut enfoncer la cheville dans le trou.You must drive the dowel into the hole.
- La cheville en bois est cassée.The wooden dowel is broken.
- Cherche une cheville pour fixer la chaise.Look for a dowel to fix the chair.
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are assembling a wooden table.
- NathanOù est la cheville pour ce trou ?Where is the dowel for this hole?
- ManonElle est dans le petit sachet, Nathan.It is in the small bag, Nathan.
- NathanJe ne la vois pas du tout.I don't see it at all.
- ManonRegarde, je te donne la cheville.Look, I'll give you the dowel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dowel” translations and entries cheville, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cheville, CC BY-SA 4.0.
