colle
/kɔl/feminine
The French word for glue is colle.
colle refers to a sticky adhesive substance. You can specify types of glue by adding descriptors: colle liquide is used for liquid glue, and bâton de colle is used for a glue stick.
Meaning: sticky adhesive substance (noun)
Which one should you use?
Note that the noun colle is spelled identically to the third-person singular form of the verb coller, which means to stick or to glue.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun colle is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɔl/
Did you know?
- In French schools, the phrase être collé does not mean being glued, but rather being given a detention.
- An oral examination at certain elite French institutions is called a colle.
- The English word 'colloid', referring to a substance like gel, shares a root with colle.
Examples in context
- J'ai besoin de colle.I need glue.This sentence shows how to express a need for colle.Tatoeba #5545251 by sacredceltic, translation #2631795 by Joseph
- N'utilise pas trop de colle.Don't use too much glue.This sentence provides an instruction regarding the amount of colle to use.Tatoeba #6670642 by GB3, translation #6670637 by Hybrid
- Cette colle n'adhère pas aux plastiques.This glue does not adhere to plastic.This sentence describes the adhesion properties of a specific colle.Tatoeba #559626 by sacredceltic, translation #60719 by CK
- Pourriez-vous me prêter de la colle, s'il vous plaît?Could you lend me some glue, please?
- Pouvez-vous m'aider à trouver un adhésif pour réparer cette fissure?Can you help me find some glue to fix this crack?
- Je vais utiliser de la colle forte pour fixer ce jouet cassé.I will use some strong glue to fix this broken toy.
- J'ai acheté un adhésif puissant pour réparer ma chaussure déchirée.I bought a powerful glue to fix my torn shoe.
- N'oublie pas d'acheter de la colle à bois pour le projet de menuiserie.Don't forget to buy some wood glue for the woodworking project.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are fixing a broken toy.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu as de la colle ?Do you have some glue?
- LucasOui, elle est dans le tiroir.Yes, it is in the drawer.
- EmmaMerci, je vais mettre un peu de colle ici.Thanks, I will put some glue here.
- LucasFais attention à tes doigts, Emma !Be careful with your fingers, Emma!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glue” translations and entries colle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
