trousse (d'école)
feminine
The English phrase 'pencil case' can be translated into French as trousse (d'école) or plumier.
Meaning: object purposed to contain stationery (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| trousse (d'école) | feminine | |
| plumier | /ply.mje/ | masculine |
Both terms refer to an object purposed to contain stationery.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase d'école added to trousse literally means 'of school', specifying it as a school pencil case.
Which one should you use?
trousse is the standard, everyday word for a pencil case used by students, whereas plumier refers to a more traditional or formal wooden pencil box, often used in a more literary or old-fashioned context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word trousse is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine article une trousse. The word plumier is a masculine noun, so it takes the masculine article un plumier.
Did you know?
- In a historical context, a plumier was often a heavy wooden box that could be locked, reflecting a time when writing instruments were valuable personal possessions.
- In French, the word trousse can also refer to a 'kit' or a 'set' of tools, such as a trousse de secours for a first aid kit.
- While plumier is rare today, it is built from the word plume, meaning 'feather' or 'pen'. Historically, these cases were designed specifically to hold expensive quill pens rather than modern graphite pencils.
Examples in context
- Où est ma trousse à crayons?Where is my pencil case?
- Je range mes stylos dans ma trousse à crayons.I keep my pens in my pencil case.
- Elle a une jolie boîte à crayons en cuir.She has a beautiful leather pencil case.
- J'ai perdu ma trousse.I lost my pencil case.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pencil case” translations and entries plumier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries plumier, trousse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
