étole
/e.tɔl/
The French word for stole is étole.
An étole is a scarf-like garment, typically characterized as a long, narrow and decorative piece of clothing.
Meaning: scarf-like garment (noun)
Which one should you use?
While étole refers specifically to a formal, often long and narrow decorative stole, écharpe is the more general term for a functional scarf used for warmth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun étole is feminine, so any accompanying adjectives must be in the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /e.tɔl/.
Did you know?
- While an étole is now a luxury item, its linguistic root in the Latin 'stola' referred to a full-length gown. The word shifted from describing a whole dress to describing a narrow strip of fabric.
- In a French religious context, the étole is worn differently depending on the priest's rank. A deacon wears it longitudinally over the left shoulder, while a priest wears it around the neck and hanging straight down.
- In French religious contexts, an étole is not a fashion accessory but a liturgical vestment worn by priests. It symbolizes the authority of the clergy and is a key part of their formal ceremonial attire.
Examples in context
- La broche en or a été volée pendant la soirée.The gold brooch was stolen during the party.
- Le voleur a dérobé les bijoux précieux dans la vitrine.The thief stole the precious jewelry from the display case.
- Le voleur subtilisait des objets dans les poches des passagers.The thief would subtly steal objects from the passengers' pockets.
- Il a piqué mon porte-monnaie quand je ne regardais pas.He stole my wallet when I wasn't looking.
- Elle porte une étole en soie.She is wearing a silk stole.
- Cette étole est très douce.This stole is very soft.
- J'ai acheté une belle étole rouge.I bought a beautiful red stole.
Example conversation
A woman is trying on an accessory in a boutique.
- HugoCette étole te va très bien, Chloé.That stole looks very good on you, Chloé.
- ChloéMerci, Hugo, elle est vraiment confortable.Thank you, Hugo, it is really comfortable.
- HugoLa couleur est parfaite pour toi.The color is perfect for you.
- ChloéJe pense que je vais la prendre.I think I will take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stole” translations and entries étole, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries étole, CC BY-SA 4.0.
