boîte de mouchoirs
The English phrase "tissue box" is boîte de mouchoirs in French.
A boîte de mouchoirs refers to a container used to hold and dispense disposable paper handkerchiefs. You can use boîte de mouchoirs en papier to be more specific, emphasizing that the box contains paper tissues rather than cloth handkerchiefs.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase boîte de mouchoirs literally means "box of tissues". It is composed of boîte (box), de (of) and mouchoirs (tissues/handkerchiefs).
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the word mouchoirs is almost always used in its plural form because a box contains multiple tissues.
Did you know?
- While boîte de mouchoirs is the standard term, the word boîte is also used in French slang to refer to a nightclub.
- French has a dedicated verb moucher meaning 'to blow one's nose', which shares the same linguistic root as mouchoir.
- The word boîte is derived from a conflation of the Latin terms pyxis for 'small box' and buxus for 'box tree'.
Examples in context
- Je cherche une boîte de mouchoirs, s'il vous plaît.I'm looking for a tissue box, please.
- Tu as une boîte de Kleenex ?Do you have a tissue box?
- Peux-tu me passer la boîte de mouchoirs ?Can you pass me the tissue box?
- Il y a une boîte de mouchoirs sur la table.There is a tissue box on the table.
- J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle boîte de mouchoirs.I need a new tissue box.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are in the living room.
- GabrielChloé, je ne trouve pas la boîte de mouchoirs.Chloé, I cannot find the tissue box.
- ChloéElle est dans le tiroir, Gabriel.It is in the drawer, Gabriel.
- GabrielAh oui, je la vois maintenant.Ah yes, I see it now.
- ChloéPrends-en un pour ton nez.Take one for your nose.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boîte, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
