couture
/ku.tyʁ/feminine
The English word "sewing" is translated into French as couture.
panier de couture is the standard way to refer to a sewing basket or sewing kit.
Meaning: action of the verb to sew (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
couture is a feminine noun. Because of this, any adjectives used to describe it must also be in the feminine form, such as une belle couture.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ku.tyʁ/.
Did you know?
- In the world of high fashion, the term Haute Couture is a legally protected designation in France, not just an adjective for 'high sewing'.
- The word couture is an ancestral relative of the English medical term 'suture'. Both words originate from the Latin root for sewing together.
- While English speakers use the loanword 'couture' specifically to mean high fashion, French speakers use couture as the everyday word for any general act of sewing.
Examples in context
- « Maman, j'ai un trou dans l'aisselle de mon pull. » « Couds-le, alors ! Tu sais où se trouve le panier de couture. »"Mum, I've got a hole in my jumper's armpit." "Sew it up, then! You know where the sewing basket is."This example shows the use of couture in the context of a sewing basket.Tatoeba #11461609 by Micsmithel, translation #10650234 by sundown
- Son panier de couture, les tiroirs de son vaisselier et les étagères de son garde-manger sont tous systématiquement ordonnés de manière impeccable.Her sewing basket, dresser drawers and pantry shelves are all systematically arranged in apple-pie order.This sentence illustrates the use of couture within the phrase panier de couture.Tatoeba #1036448 by sacredceltic, translation #847260 by Source_Benedict_1921
- Marie est très douée pour la couture.Mary is very good at sewing.This sentence shows how to describe someone's skill regarding couture.Tatoeba #11784714 by tieguy, translation #10999984 by CK
- Je suis passionné(e) par la couture depuis mon enfance.I have been passionate about sewing since my childhood.
- Elle adore le bricolage, surtout la couture.She loves DIY, especially sewing.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are discussing a new hobby.
- GabrielQu'est-ce que tu fais comme loisir ?What do you do for a hobby?
- ManonJe m'intéresse beaucoup à la couture.I am very interested in sewing.
- GabrielC'est difficile d'apprendre la couture ?Is sewing difficult to learn?
- ManonNon, c'est assez relaxant, Gabriel.No, it is quite relaxing, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sewing” translations and entries couture, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries couture, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
