trou
/tʁu/masculine
The English phrase "hole" is translated into French as trou.
The noun trou refers to a through opening. You can also use the related verb trouer, which means to make holes.
Meaning: a through opening (noun)
Which one should you use?
The adjective troué is derived from the verb trouer and is used to describe something that is holey or full of holes, such as a garment with a hole in it.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
trou is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʁu/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use perçage (which refers to the act of drilling) when they are actually referring to the physical hole itself. Use trou for the opening.
Did you know?
- When referring to a small town or a remote village, French speakers sometimes dismissively call it un trou.
- While trou is the standard word, it is also used in the common French idiom avoir un trou de mémoire, which means to have a sudden lapse in memory.
- The word trou has such an ancient lineage that it likely originates from a 'barbarous' version of Latin used in legal codes rather than classical Latin.
Examples in context
- Faites un trou !Make a hole!Tatoeba #10474706 by Julien_PDC, translation #12001270 by LdjuherTaqvaylit
- Je creuse un trou.I'm digging a hole.Tatoeba #8237600 by Aiji, translation #5975598 by CK
- Il a creusé un trou.He dug a hole.Tatoeba #131949 by Micsmithel, translation #295871 by CK
- Dans le jardin, il y a un trou profond.In the garden, there is a deep hole.
- Le constructeur a creusé un trou pour poser les fondations.The builder dug a hole to lay the foundations.
- Le joueur de golf a réussi à mettre la balle dans le trou.The golfer managed to put the ball in the hole.
- J'ai marché dans un trou et je suis tombé.I stepped into a hole and fell.
- 80 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are walking in a park.
- EmmaLucas, regarde ce trou dans la route !Lucas, look at this hole in the road!
- LucasC'est vrai, il est très profond.It is true, it is very deep.
- EmmaIl faut faire attention en marchant.We must be careful while walking.
- LucasTu as raison, Emma.You are right, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hole” translations and entries trou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries trou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
