thermomètre
/tɛʁ.mɔ.mɛtʁ/masculine
The English word 'thermometer' is thermomètre in French.
A thermomètre is an apparatus used to measure temperature. Specific types include Le thermomètre numérique (digital thermometer) and Le thermomètre à mercure (mercury thermometer).
Meaning: apparatus used to measure temperature (noun)
Which one should you use?
thermomètre is the standard term, while Le thermo is a colloquial shorthand.
How does it change in a sentence?
thermomètre is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɛʁ.mɔ.mɛtʁ/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In French medical contexts, you will often hear the phrase prendre la température instead of mentioning the thermomètre specifically.
- While an English speaker might say 'the thermometer is broken', a French speaker might more specifically use the phrase le thermomètre est en panne if it is an electronic device.
- In older French texts, you might find thermomètre described as an instrument of 'physique', reflecting an era when temperature measurement was a specialized branch of natural philosophy.
Examples in context
- Le thermomètre affiche 10 degrés.The thermometer reads 10 degrees.This sentence shows how a thermometer displays a temperature reading using thermomètre.Tatoeba #2445241 by gillux, translation #2442907 by FeuDRenais2
- Mets le thermomètre sous ton bras.Put the thermometer under your arm.This sentence demonstrates how to use thermomètre when referring to placing it under an arm.Tatoeba #7050301 by Aiji, translation #3010214 by CK
- Tom a mis le thermomètre sur le mur.Tom put the thermometer on the wall.This sentence shows the use of thermomètre when placing the device on a wall.Tatoeba #5405943 by Aiji, translation #1093108 by CK
- J'utilise le thermomètre pour vérifier ma température corporelle chaque matin.I use the thermometer to check my body temperature every morning.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa is checking if Gabriel has a fever.
- LéaEst-ce que tu as un thermomètre ?Do you have a thermometer?
- GabrielOui, il est dans la pharmacie.Yes, it is in the medicine cabinet.
- LéaApporte-moi le thermomètre, s'il te plaît.Bring me the thermometer, please.
- GabrielTiens, le voilà, Léa.Here, here it is, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thermometer” translations and entries thermomètre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
