How to Say "Earphones" in French

écouteurs

masculine, plural

The English word "earphones" is écouteurs in French.

The word écouteurs is a masculine plural noun used to describe small speakers worn over the ears.

Meaning: small speakers worn over the ears (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word écouteurs literally means "listeners". It is derived from the verb écouter (to listen) and the suffix -eur (one who does).

Use écouteurs for small in-ear buds or earphones, but use casque for larger headphones that sit over or around the ears.

While the plural écouteurs is the standard way to refer to a pair of earphones, the singular un écouteur refers to a single earbud.

The word casque for headphones literally means 'helmet', suggesting the device is an armored piece of headgear.
The suffix -eur in écouteurs is shared with other tools like aspirateur (vacuum cleaner), as both are 'doers' of an action.
In some French-speaking regions, you might hear oreillettes instead of écouteurs, specifically for the tiny buds used in security guards' earpieces.

« À qui sont ces écouteurs ? » « Ils sont à Fatima. »
"Whose earphones are these?" "They are Fatima's."
The first example shows how to ask about the ownership of écouteurs.
Tatoeba #11342626 by Micsmithel, translation #1742114 by Amastan
As-tu des écouteurs ?
Do you have earphones?
The second example is a way to ask if someone possesses écouteurs.
Tatoeba #10725 by Pharamp, translation #65831 by CK
Ces écouteurs ne fonctionnent pas.
These earphones don't work.
The third example describes a situation where écouteurs are not working.
Tatoeba #429179 by jihaire, translation #61323 by CK
Je vais mettre mes écouteurs pour écouter de la musique.
I'm going to put on my earphones to listen to some music.
Mon ami m'a prêté son casque audio pour regarder un film.
My friend lent me his earphones to watch a movie.
J'ai acheté ces écouteurs pour mon téléphone portable.
I bought these earphones for my mobile phone.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Chloé and Gabriel are in a cafe.

Sources

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