pointes
The French phrase for pointe shoes is pointes.
The term refers to the specialized footwear worn by ballet dancers to enable them to dance on the tips of their toes.
Which one should you use?
While dancers often simply say les pointes, the full technical term is chaussons de pointe.
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, the term for pointe shoes is typically used in the plural feminine form les pointes.
Did you know?
- In France, the phrase être sur les pointes can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe someone who is nervous, anxious or 'on edge'.
- In a professional French studio, a dancer might refer to the hard tip of the shoe as the boîte, which means 'box'. This describes the flat platform created by layers of glue and fabric.
- The word pointe is also the name of a specific type of sharp, pointed tip found on many French-style architectural elements and even certain tools.
Examples in context
- Mes pointes sont très usées.My pointe shoes are very worn out.
- Elle a acheté de nouvelles pointes.She bought new pointe shoes.
Example conversation
At a dance studio after class.
- EmmaTu as besoin de nouvelles pointes ?Do you need new pointe shoes?
- LucasOui, les miennes sont trop petites.Yes, mine are too small.
- EmmaJe vais t'aider à en choisir.I will help you choose some.
- LucasMerci, c'est très gentil.Thank you, that is very kind.
