baskets
The English phrase 'trainers' can be translated into French as baskets.
This term refers to comfortable shoes used for sports or casual wear.
Which one should you use?
While baskets specifically refers to casual or athletic footwear, the more general term chaussures is used for all types of shoes. In some modern contexts, particularly among younger generations, the English loanword sneakers is also used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Baskets is the most commonly used term in informal contexts. For a more formal or descriptive way to say 'trainers', use chaussures de sport.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the term souliers de course is used for trainers.
How does it change in a sentence?
Although the plural baskets is the most common way to refer to a pair, you can use the singular une basket to refer to a single shoe.
Did you know?
- The term baskets is actually a shortened version of chaussures de basket, which refers to basketball shoes. It is a linguistic quirk that a word for a specific sport became the universal term for all casual trainers.
- In France, wearing baskets with a formal suit was once a major fashion faux pas, but it has become a symbol of 'casual chic' in modern Parisian business culture.
- The Quebec term souliers de course uses the word souliers, a term for shoes that has largely vanished from everyday speech in France.
Examples in context
- Les baskets de Thomas sont gigantesques.Tom's trainers are huge.This sentence is useful for describing the size of someone's baskets.Tatoeba #3349904 by Blabla, translation #10634488 by sundown
- Les chaussures de sport sont recommandées pour les activités physiques.Trainers are recommended for physical activities.
- J'adore mes nouvelles baskets, elles sont très confortables !I love my new trainers, they are very comfortable!
- Je porte mes baskets pour marcher.I am wearing my trainers to walk.
- Tes nouvelles baskets sont très jolies.Your new trainers are very pretty.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are getting ready to go for a walk.
- LéaOù sont mes baskets, Lucas ?Where are my trainers, Lucas?
- LucasElles sont près de la porte.They are near the door.
- LéaAh oui, je les vois maintenant.Oh yes, I see them now.
- LucasDépêche-toi, on va être en retard !Hurry up, we are going to be late!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
