sweat-shirt
/swɛt.ʃœʁt/
The English word "sweatshirt" can be translated into French as sweat-shirt. If unsure, use sweat-shirt. Wiktionary also lists sweatshirt and coton ouaté.
Meaning: loose shirt, usually made of a knit fleece, for athletic wear and now often used as casual apparel (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sweat-shirt | /swɛt.ʃœʁt/ /swit.ʃœʁt/ |
|
| sweatshirt | masculine | |
| coton ouaté | /kɔ.tɔ̃ wa.te/ | Louisiana, New England, Quebec, masculine |
A sweatshirt is a loose shirt, usually made of a knit fleece, for athletic wear and now often used as casual apparel.
Which one should you use?
While sweat-shirt and sweatshirt are both used, coton ouaté is a distinct regional term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, New England and Louisiana, the term coton ouaté is used to refer to a sweatshirt.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term sweat-shirt is a masculine noun, such as in the phrase un sweat-shirt.
How do you pronounce it?
/swɛt.ʃœʁt/
Did you know?
- The term coton ouaté highlights the material composition (cotton) rather than the function (sweating), which is a shift in how the garment is conceptualized compared to English.
- In casual spoken French, the word sweat-shirt is frequently shortened to just un sweat.
- The French word coton shares its root with the Arabic word quṭun.
Examples in context
- J'aime bien ton nouveau sweat-shirt.I really like your new sweatshirt.
- Il a acheté un sweat-shirt bleu.He bought a blue sweatshirt.
- Où est mon sweat-shirt gris ?Where is my grey sweatshirt?
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are getting ready to go for a walk.
- NathanTu as vu mon sweat-shirt ?Have you seen my sweatshirt?
- LéaOui, il est sur la chaise.Yes, it is on the chair.
- NathanMerci, il fait un peu froid dehors.Thanks, it is a bit cold outside.
- LéaC'est vrai, mets-le vite !That's true, put it on quickly!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweatshirt” translations and entries sweat-shirt, coton ouaté, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coton, sweat-shirt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
