mannequin
/man.kɛ̃/
The French word for dummy is mannequin.
The term mannequin refers to a deliberately nonfunctional placeholder. It can also be used to refer to a professional fashion model.
Meaning: a deliberately nonfunctional placeholder (noun)
Which one should you use?
In French, mannequin is used for both a nonfunctional placeholder (like a shop window dummy) and a professional fashion model.
How do you pronounce it?
/man.kɛ̃/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, which uses 'dummy' for a pacifier, French uses tétine or sucette, keeping mannequin strictly for figures.
- The term mannequin is used in French tailoring to describe the physical form or build of a person's body.
- The word mannequin was borrowed into French from the Middle Dutch word manneken.
Examples in context
- Il s'est fait passer pour un mannequin d’essai de choc.He made a crash test dummy of himself.This sentence shows how to use mannequin to refer to a crash test dummy.Tatoeba #6597250 by Micsmithel, translation #1521105 by corvard
- Arrête de faire l'andouille !Stop acting like a dummy!
- Elle a acheté un mannequin pour ses cours de dessin.She bought a dummy for her drawing classes.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are walking past a clothing store.
- HugoRegarde ce mannequin dans la vitrine, il est élégant.Look at that dummy in the window, it is elegant.
- LéaC'est vrai, la robe lui va très bien.It's true, the dress suits it very well.
- HugoEst-ce que tu penses que nous devrions entrer ?Do you think we should go inside?
- LéaOui, allons voir plus de vêtements.Yes, let's go see more clothes.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mannequin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mannequin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
