maillot
/ma.jo/masculine
The English word "jersey" (referring to an athletic shirt) is translated into French as maillot.
maillot is the most commonly used word for a jersey and is the specific term used in French sports contexts to refer to the official shirt worn by a team or a cyclist in a race.
Meaning: shirt worn by a member of an athletic team (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canada, chandail is frequently used to mean jersey.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ma.jo/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use the English word "jersey" in a French sentence, but in a sporting context, maillot is the correct term.
Did you know?
- The word maillot comes from maille, which refers to the mesh or links of a coat of armor.
- While maillot is the standard term for an athletic jersey, it is also the word used for a 'swimsuit' or 'bodysuit' in many contexts. This can lead to confusion if you are not careful when discussing beachwear versus sportswear.
- The word maillot can be used in the expression maillot de corps, which refers to a 'undershirt' or 'singlet' rather than a competitive team jersey.
Examples in context
- Il porte un maillot rayé rouge et bleu.He is wearing a striped jersey in red and blue.This sentence is useful for describing the colors and pattern of a maillot.Tatoeba #14059133 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #14059132 by Ioan_Cristian
- Pourquoi ton maillot est-il suspendu à la chaise ?Why is your jersey hanging on the chair?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of a maillot.Tatoeba #14059137 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #14059136 by Ioan_Cristian
- Contador a gagné le maillot jaune au Tour de France.Contador won the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.This sentence is useful for seeing how a maillot is used in the context of a professional cycling race.Tatoeba #512659 by SUZIE, translation #512503 by blay_paul
- Je porte mon maillot préféré pour le match de football.I am wearing my favorite jersey for the football game.
- J'ai acheté un nouveau chandail des Canadiens de Montréal.I bought a new jersey of the Montreal Canadiens.
- Tu veux acheter un tricot de ton équipe favorite?Do you want to buy a jersey of your favorite team?
- On porte toujours des tricots de sport pour nos entraînements de basket.We always wear sports jerseys for our basketball practices.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are at a sports store.
- LucasOù est le maillot de football ?Where is the football jersey?
- LéaIl est sur ce rayon, Lucas.It is on this shelf, Lucas.
- LucasCe maillot est très beau.This jersey is very beautiful.
- LéaOui, la couleur est superbe.Yes, the color is superb.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jersey” translations and entries maillot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maillot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
