boîte à pourboires
The English phrase "tip jar" is translated into French as boîte à pourboires.
A boîte à pourboires refers to a container, often placed on a counter, where customers can leave small amounts of money to reward service.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of boîte (box), à (for/with) and pourboires (tips).
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, pourboires is typically used in the plural because the container is intended to hold multiple tips.
Did you know?
- The term pourboire literally translates to 'for drink', originating from the historical custom of giving a small amount of money so a servant could go buy a drink.
- The word boîte is also a slang term in French for a 'club' or a 'discotheque', which provides a humorous linguistic coincidence when discussing a 'boîte à pourboires'.
- The word boîte shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'box', specifically the Latin word 'buxus' which refers to the 'box tree'.
Examples in context
- Vous pouvez déposer votre pourboire dans l'urne à pourboires.You can place your tip in the tip jar.
- N'hésitez pas à glisser un billet dans le pot à pourboire.Feel free to slip a bill into the tip jar.
- Pensez à contribuer à la caisse des pourboires pour remercier nos serveurs.Remember to contribute to the tip jar to thank our servers.
- La boîte à pourboires est sur le comptoir.The tip jar is on the counter.
- Il y a de l'argent dans la boîte à pourboires.There is some money in the tip jar.
- Où est la boîte à pourboires du café ?Where is the coffee shop's tip jar?
Example conversation
At a small café, Nathan is helping Chloé clean up.
- ChloéNathan, peux-tu vider la boîte à pourboires ?Nathan, can you empty the tip jar?
- NathanOui, je m'en occupe tout de suite.Yes, I will take care of it right away.
- ChloéMerci, c'est très gentil de ta part.Thank you, that is very kind of you.
- NathanDe rien, Chloé.You're welcome, Chloé.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boîte, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
