pantalon
/pɑ̃.ta.lɔ̃/
The French word for trousers or pants is pantalon.
Pantalon refers to an outer garment worn on the lower part of the body, covering each leg separately. You can use it in various descriptions, such as Pantalon large for wide-leg pants, Pantalon taille haute for high-waisted pants or Pantalon en jean to mean jeans.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the informal word froc is used to refer to pants.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun pantalon is masculine and is often preceded by the masculine article un to mean a pair of trousers. While pantalon is the singular form, the plural form pantalons is used to refer to a pair of trousers, similar to the English word 'pants'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /pɑ̃.ta.lɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- The word pantalon actually traces back to a character named 'Pantalone' from the Italian 'commedia dell'arte'. He was a famous stock character known for wearing long hose that often ended up hanging around his feet.
- Unlike English, where 'pants' can occasionally refer to underpants, pantalon almost always refers to the outer garment.
Examples in context
- J'aime votre pantalon.I like your pants.
- Avez-vous des pantalons longs pour les réunions formelles ?Do you have long pants for formal meetings?
- Ce pantalon est magnifique !These pants are stunning!
- J'aime mon pantalon gris.I like my gray pants.
- Il porte un pantalon noir.He is wearing black trousers.
- Je cherche un pantalon bleu.I am looking for a blue pair of pants.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are shopping for clothes in a boutique.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu aimes ce pantalon ?Do you like these pants?
- HugoOui, il est très joli.Yes, they are very pretty.
- ChloéTu penses que je devrais l'acheter ?Do you think I should buy them?
- HugoOui, il te va très bien.Yes, they suit you very well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pantalon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pantalon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
