crayon de couleur
The English phrase 'pencil crayon' is translated into French as crayon de couleur.
crayon de couleur refers specifically to colored pencils.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'pencil of color'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, crayon à colorier is commonly used.
Did you know?
- French uses the word mine to describe the 'lead' inside a crayon de couleur. This is the same word used for a mineral 'mine' in the ground.
- The word crayon actually began its life as a diminutive of the word for 'chalk'.
- While crayon de couleur describes the tool, French has no single word for 'coloring book', instead using livre de coloriage. The noun coloriage focuses on the act of coloring itself.
Examples in context
- Pourrais-tu me passer un crayon de couleur ?Could you pass me a pencil crayon?
- As-tu vu mon set de crayons de couleurs ?Have you seen my set of colored pencils?
- Est-ce que vous vendez des crayons à dessiner ici ?Do you sell drawing pencils here?
- J'ai besoin d'un crayon de couleur rouge.I need a red pencil crayon.
- Peux-tu me prêter ton crayon de couleur ?Can you lend me your pencil crayon?
- Elle dessine avec un crayon de couleur bleu.She is drawing with a blue pencil crayon.
Example conversation
Two students are working on an art project together.
- NathanManon, as-tu un crayon de couleur bleu ?Manon, do you have a blue pencil crayon?
- ManonOui, je peux t'en prêter un.Yes, I can lend you one.
- NathanMerci beaucoup, Nathan en a besoin aussi.Thanks a lot, Nathan needs one too.
- ManonPas de problème, voici le crayon de couleur.No problem, here is the pencil crayon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries couleur, crayon, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
