débardeur
/de.baʁ.dœʁ/
The English phrase "muscle shirt" is translated into French as débardeur.
The term débardeur is the standard way to refer to a sleeveless shirt. It can describe a casual tank top used as an undershirt or a more form-fitting muscle shirt designed for athletic purposes.
Meaning: sleeveless shirt tailored to display the muscles of the body (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word comes from débarder, which refers to the work of loading and unloading ships. Historically, this term is associated with the sleeveless clothing worn by dockworkers.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural, simply add an s to the end of the word: débardeurs.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /de.baʁ.dœʁ/.
Did you know?
- The word débardeur has a double meaning in certain regional carnival traditions, where it refers to a specific pair of trousers rather than a shirt.
- The term marcel for a muscle shirt is believed by some to be named after Marcel Proust, though it actually refers to a specific 19th-century style of undergarment.
- The term débardeur is used across many different French-speaking countries, but the specific style of 'muscle shirt' may be called a marcel in France, named after a 19th-century fashion trend.
Examples in context
- Il porte un débardeur pour s'entraîner.He is wearing a muscle shirt to work out.
- Ce débardeur met bien en valeur ses bras.This muscle shirt really shows off his arms.
- Elle a acheté un nouveau débardeur blanc.She bought a new white muscle shirt.
Example conversation
At a gym, Lucas is getting ready for a workout.
- ChloéLucas, ton nouveau débardeur est très sympa.Lucas, your new muscle shirt is very nice.
- LucasMerci Chloé, il est très confortable.Thanks Chloé, it is very comfortable.
- ChloéIl te va très bien.It looks very good on you.
- LucasC'est gentil, je vais commencer ma séance.That's kind, I'm going to start my session.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry débardeur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries débardeur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
