boîte à crayons
The English phrase 'pencil box' is translated into French as boîte à crayons.
A boîte à crayons refers to a small container used for storing pencils and other writing tools.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of boîte (box), à (for/with) and crayons (pencils).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word crayons is plural because a pencil box typically holds more than one pencil. Because the noun boîte is feminine, you should use the indefinite article une when saying 'a pencil box' (une boîte à crayons).
Did you know?
- In French slang, the word boîte is used to refer to a nightclub, such as in the phrase sortir en boîte meaning 'to go clubbing'.
- While a boîte à crayons is a rigid container, French students more commonly use a trousse, which is a soft, zippered pencil case.
- The word boîte shares a common ancestor with the English 'box', but both actually stem from the Latin name for the 'box tree'.
Examples in context
- Range tes crayons dans ta boîte à crayons.Put your pencils in your pencil box.
- J'ai une nouvelle boîte à crayons.I have a new pencil box.
- Où est ta boîte à crayons ?Where is your pencil box?
- Il y a des stylos dans la boîte à crayons.There are pens in the pencil box.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are in a classroom.
- NathanLéa, est-ce que tu vois ma boîte à crayons ?Léa, do you see my pencil box?
- LéaOui, elle est sur ta table.Yes, it is on your table.
- NathanMerci, je l'ai perdue.Thanks, I lost it.
- LéaPas de problème, Nathan.No problem, Nathan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boîte, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
