trousse
/tʁus/
The English phrase "pencil pouch" is translated into French as trousse.
It can also refer more broadly to any small bag used to hold various items.
Which one should you use?
In everyday conversations, people tend to shorten pochette à crayons to simply pochette.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun trousse is a feminine noun, so it is preceded by the feminine articles une (a) or la (the).
How do you pronounce it?
/tʁus/
Did you know?
- If you are at a pharmacy in France and ask for a trousse, you might end up with a medical kit instead of a stationery bag. While it means 'pouch', it is the standard term for a first-aid kit, known as a trousse de secours.
- In a medical context, a trousse can refer to the specific set of instruments a surgeon uses during an operation.
- In older French usage, the verb trousser could specifically mean to tuck up one's skirts or dress for travel.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous me prêter un étui à crayons ? J'ai oublié le mien à la maison.Excuse me, could you lend me a pencil case? I forgot mine at home.
- J'ai besoin d'une trousse pour ranger mes crayons et mes stylos.I need a pencil pouch to organize my pens and pencils.
- Ma trousse est sur la table.My pencil pouch is on the table.
- Où est ma trousse bleue ?Where is my blue pencil pouch?
- J'ai mis mon stylo dans la trousse.I put my pen in the pencil pouch.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are preparing for class in a classroom.
- EmmaGabriel, tu as vu ma trousse ?Gabriel, have you seen my pencil pouch?
- GabrielOui, elle est dans ton sac.Yes, it is in your bag.
- EmmaAh, merci beaucoup !Ah, thank you very much!
- GabrielDe rien, Emma.You're welcome, Emma.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry trousse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
