peignoir
/pɛ.ɲwaʁ/
The French word for a bathrobe or dressing gown is peignoir.
The term peignoir is used specifically to refer to a bathrobe or a dressing gown worn at home.
Meaning: long, loose outer garment (noun)
Which one should you use?
In English, the word 'robe' can describe many different types of long garments. However, the French word peignoir is specialized and refers only to a dressing gown or bathrobe.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɛ.ɲwaʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the French word robe to mean a bathrobe. In French, une robe actually means a woman's dress.
Did you know?
- In historical French contexts, la robe represented the 'nobility of the robe', a class of nobility attained through administrative or judicial service rather than through military 'nobility of the sword'.
- The term robe is used in French wine tasting to describe the color and clarity of the wine in the glass.
- While une robe is a woman's dress, the word is also used in French to describe the color and texture of a horse's coat.
Examples in context
- Ma grand-mère met toujours une robe de chambre avant de se coucher.My grandmother always puts on a dressing gown before going to bed.
- Elle porte un peignoir en coton.She is wearing a cotton peignoir.
- J'ai oublié mon peignoir dans la salle de bain.I forgot my peignoir in the bathroom.
- Le peignoir est très doux.The peignoir is very soft.
Example conversation
A couple is getting ready in a hotel room.
- EmmaLucas, où est mon peignoir ?Lucas, where is my peignoir?
- LucasIl est sur le lit, Emma.It is on the bed, Emma.
- EmmaMerci, il est très confortable.Thank you, it is very comfortable.
- LucasDe rien, tu es prête ?You're welcome, are you ready?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry peignoir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
