portable
/pɔʁ.tabl/
The English phrase "handheld" is translated into French as portable.
The term portable describes something small enough to be held and used in one's hand. In French, this word is most commonly used as a noun to refer to a mobile phone, such as in the phrase un téléphone portable.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, portable is invariable in gender, meaning it remains the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. To form the plural, simply add an 's' to create portables.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɔʁ.tabl/
Did you know?
- The word portable shares an unexpected family tree with the English word 'report', as both stem from the Latin 'portare', meaning 'to carry'.
- In France, the word portable is used for mobile phones, but in Quebec, the term cellulaire is much more common.
- Unlike the English 'portable' which can describe anything from a chair to a speaker, portable in a modern French context almost always triggers the thought of a phone unless a noun is explicitly attached.
Examples in context
- Les appareils portatifs sont pratiques pour les professionnels en déplacement.Handheld devices are convenient for professionals on the go.
- Je joue à des jeux en mode portable sur ma console.I play games handheld on my console.
- une console de jeux portableA handheld game console
- J'ai acheté une console portable.I bought a handheld console.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are looking at new gadgets in a shop.
- GabrielRegarde ce lecteur de musique portable.Look at this handheld music player.
- ChloéIl est vraiment très petit.It is really very small.
- GabrielOui, il est très facile à transporter.Yes, it is very easy to carry.
- ChloéTu devrais l'acheter, Gabriel.You should buy it, Gabriel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry portable, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries portable, CC BY-SA 4.0.
