chaise longue
The English phrase "lounge chair" is chaise longue in French.
A chaise longue refers to a chair with a long seat and a back designed to allow a person to sit in a reclined position.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of chaise (chair) and longue (long).
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing the plural, chaises longues, both the noun and the adjective take an s.
Did you know?
- In French, chaise is a generic term for any chair, but in historical contexts, it also referred to a carriage or a sedan chair used for transport.
- If you use the term chaise longue in a high-end French design context, you are using a phrase that shares its DNA with the 'cathedra' of a bishop. This connects a simple piece of lounge furniture to the most official and sacred seats of authority.
- If you see the word chaire in a French text, it does not mean a chair for sitting. It usually refers to a 'pulpit' or a 'professor's chair' in a university, showing how the spelling change created a total shift in meaning.
Examples in context
- Dans mon jardin, j'ai une chaise longue pour me relaxer.In my garden, I have a lounge chair to relax.
- Je vais m'allonger sur le transat pour profiter du soleil.I'm going to lie down on the lounge chair to enjoy the sun.
- Je vais m'installer sur la chaise longue.I am going to settle down on the lounge chair.
- Il y a une chaise longue dans le jardin.There is a lounge chair in the garden.
- Est-ce que cette chaise longue est confortable ?Is this lounge chair comfortable?
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are at a hotel by the pool.
- LéaLucas, est-ce que tu veux utiliser ma chaise longue ?Lucas, do you want to use my lounge chair?
- LucasC'est gentil, merci beaucoup, Léa.That is kind, thank you very much, Léa.
- LéaElle est très agréable pour lire un livre.It is very pleasant for reading a book.
- LucasParfait, je vais faire une petite sieste.Perfect, I am going to take a little nap.
