velours
/və.luʁ/masculine
The English word "velvet" is velours in French.
Velours is a noun used to refer to the soft fabric. It can also function as an adjective. When you want to describe an object as being made of velvet, use the preposition en before the word, as in en velours.
Meaning: fabric (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of France and Canada, specifically Quebec, the term velours côtelé is used to refer to corduroy.
How does it change in a sentence?
Velours is a masculine noun. Note that it ends in an s in its singular form.
How do you pronounce it?
/və.luʁ/
Did you know?
- The adjective velouté is frequently used in French cooking to describe a sauce that is smooth and creamy, such as a 'velouté' soup.
- Historically, velours was so expensive in France that sumptuary laws once restricted its use to the highest ranks of the nobility and royalty.
- French uses velours in the expression un gant de velours, which refers to a gentle approach that hides a firm or iron will.
Examples in context
- Ce canapé est en velours.This couch is made of velvet.This example shows how to use en velours to describe a couch.Tatoeba #12451191 by lbdx, translation #6550176 by Micsmithel
- Cette étoffe fait l'effet du velours.This cloth feels like velvet.This sentence uses velours to describe the feel of a cloth.Tatoeba #3327720 by sacredceltic, translation #57402 by CK
- Les pantalons en velours ne sont plus à la mode.Velvet pants are out of style.This example demonstrates the use of en velours when discussing clothing.Tatoeba #10371081 by lbdx, translation #1369501 by Spamster
- Cette robe est faite de velours.This dress is made of velvet.
- Elle a acheté du tissu de velours pour recouvrir le canapé.She bought velvet fabric to cover the sofa.
- Les pétales de cette fleur sont veloutés.The petals of this flower are velvety.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are at a clothing store.
- ChloéTu aimes cette veste en velours ?Do you like this velvet jacket?
- GabrielOui, le velours est très doux.Yes, the velvet is very soft.
- ChloéElle est de quelle couleur ?What color is it?
- GabrielC'est un beau bleu marine.It is a beautiful navy blue.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “velvet” translations and entries velours, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
