grille-pain
/ɡʁij.pɛ̃/masculine
The English word 'toaster' is translated into French as grille-pain. Wiktionary also lists toasteur.
Meaning: device for toasting bread (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| grille-pain | /ɡʁij.pɛ̃/ | masculine |
| toasteur | /tos.tœʁ/ | masculine |
Both grille-pain and toasteur refer to a device used for toasting bread.
What does it mean word for word?
The word grille-pain is a compound of grille, meaning 'grill' and pain, meaning 'bread'.
Which one should you use?
Grille-pain is the standard and most common term used in French. Toasteur is a less common term that is often seen as more technical or anglicized.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both terms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ɡʁij.pɛ̃/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word pain in grille-pain shares a root with the English word 'companion', which originally meant 'someone with whom you share bread'.
- In France, the typical breakfast is tartines, which are slices of baguette toasted or fresh and spread with butter and jam, rather than sliced square bread.
- The word grille refers not only to a cooking element but also to the 'grille' or metal gate of a palace or prison.
Examples in context
- Elle a encore cassé le grille-pain.She has broken the toaster again.This sentence shows how to use grille-pain when talking about breaking the device.Tatoeba #1357965 by sacredceltic, translation #312224 by CK
- Le pain est coincé dans le grille-pain.The bread is stuck in the toaster.This sentence demonstrates using grille-pain to describe bread being stuck in the device.Tatoeba #12635571 by lbdx, translation #3819591 by CK
- J'ai un grille-pain.I have a toaster.This sentence shows a simple way to state possession of a grille-pain.Tatoeba #9767227 by Micsmithel, translation #2358835 by CK
- J'ai besoin d'un grille-pain pour faire mon petit déjeuner.I need a toaster to make my breakfast.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are in the kitchen in the morning.
- ChloéOù est le grille-pain ?Where is the toaster?
- NathanIl est sur le comptoir.It is on the counter.
- ChloéEst-ce que ton grille-pain fonctionne ?Does your toaster work?
- NathanOui, il marche très bien.Yes, it works very well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toaster” translations and entries grille-pain, toasteur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
