couteau aiguisé
The English phrase 'sharp knife' is translated into French as couteau aiguisé.
This phrase refers to a knife that has a fine edge and can cut through things easily.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between couteau aiguisé and couteau tranchant. While couteau aiguisé means a knife that has been sharpened, couteau tranchant refers to a knife that is currently sharp or has a cutting edge.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because couteau is a masculine noun, the adjective aiguisé does not take an extra e at the end for the feminine form.
Did you know?
- In French culinary tradition, a couteau aiguisé is often maintained using a fusil, which is a honing steel named after the word for a 'rifle'.
- The word couteau is a distant relative of the English word 'cultivate', as both descend from the same Latin root related to a knife or a blade.
- While English speakers use 'sharp' for both intelligence and blades, using aiguisé to describe a person's wit in French can sound slightly more formal or literary than the everyday vif.
Examples in context
- J'ai un couteau aiguisé.I have a sharp knife.This sentence is useful for stating that you possess a couteau aiguisé.Tatoeba #6461311 by Aiji, translation #681309 by Source_VOA
- Je me rappelle quand on coupait le cordon ombilical avec un couteau aiguisé.I remember when we used to cut the umbilical cord with a sharp knife.This sentence is useful for describing a past action involving a couteau aiguisé.Tatoeba #11948535 by AmarMecheri, translation #11948532 by AmarMecheri
- Dans ma cuisine, j'ai un couteau tranchant pour découper les légumes.In my kitchen, I have a sharp knife for cutting vegetables.
- Attention à ce couteau, il est tranchant comme un rasoir !Be careful with this knife, it's sharp as a razor!
- Fais attention avec ce couteau aiguisé.Be careful with this sharp knife.
Example conversation
In a kitchen, Nathan is preparing vegetables.
- NathanEst-ce que tu as vu mon couteau aiguisé ?Have you seen my sharp knife?
- ChloéIl est sur le plan de travail, Nathan.It is on the countertop, Nathan.
- NathanMerci, j'ai besoin d'un couteau aiguisé pour la viande.Thanks, I need a sharp knife for the meat.
- ChloéUtilise celui-là, il coupe très bien.Use that one, it cuts very well.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries couteau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
