French Conversation · Level 81
60 words
French word
émailler
Pronunciation
IPA/emaje/
Meaning
- verbenamel
Example
Il faut émailler cette casserole.
This saucepan needs to be enameled.
More examples
Elle a émaillé sa présentation de blagues légères.
She peppered her presentation with light jokes.
Core concept
A ceramic or metal surface transformed by a thin, glass-like covering into something tougher and more ornamental.
Common phrases
émailler de blagues
pepper with jokes
émailler de détails
pepper with details
Similar words
peindre: Paint a surface with a brush or roller to alter its appearance.
vernir: Coat a surface with varnish to give it gloss and protection.
décorer: Adorn something with decorative details or patterns.
recouvrir: Cover something with a different material or layer.
Definition in French
Appliquer une couche d'émail sur une surface pour la protéger ou la décorer, notamment sur métal ou céramique.
Word origin
Émailler derives from émail, whose older form esmail entered French from medieval Latin smaltum.
Usage tips
- The English verb enamel closely matches the literal sense, but French also uses émailler de for something intermittently filled or decorated with elements.
Other meanings
- glazeverb
- decorateverb
- studverb