bottes en caoutchouc
feminine, plural
In French, "wellington boots" is said as bottes en caoutchouc.
The phrase refers to waterproof rubber boots. While the English term often derives from a specific brand, the French term bottes en caoutchouc is the standard descriptive way to refer to any boots made of this material.
Meaning: waterproof rubber boot (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bottes (boots), en (made of) and caoutchouc (rubber).
Which one should you use?
While bottes en caoutchouc describes the material, you may also see the alternative bottes de pluie, which translates to "rain boots".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word botte is a feminine noun. Therefore, when referring to a single boot, you use the feminine singular article to say une botte en caoutchouc.
Did you know?
- The word caoutchouc has its origins in the Quechua word 'kawchu', which was later adopted into Spanish as 'cauchuc' before entering French.
- In France, the word botte is also used as a unit of measurement for certain agricultural items, such as a 'bundle' of hay or straw.
Examples in context
- Je dois acheter une paire de bottes de pluie pour mon prochain voyage en campagne.I need to buy a pair of Wellington boots for my upcoming countryside trip.
- J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle paire de bottes en caoutchouc pour mes activités de jardinage.I need a new pair of Wellington boots for my gardening activities.
- J'ai porté mes bottes de pluie pour la randonnée.I wore my Wellington boots for the hike.
- J'ai besoin de nouvelles galoches pour marcher dans la boue bretonne.I need new Wellington boots to walk in the Breton mud.
- Elle porte des bottes en caoutchouc.She is wearing rubber boots.
- J'ai acheté de nouvelles bottes en caoutchouc.I bought new rubber boots.
- Les bottes en caoutchouc sont dans le garage.The rubber boots are in the garage.
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are preparing to go walking in the rain.
- LucasChloé, as-tu tes bottes en caoutchouc ?Chloé, do you have your rubber boots?
- ChloéOui, elles sont juste ici.Yes, they are right here.
- LucasParfait, nous pouvons marcher dans la boue.Perfect, we can walk in the mud.
- ChloéLucas, je n'aime pas trop la boue !Lucas, I don't like mud very much!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wellington boots” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caoutchouc, en, CC BY-SA 4.0.
