French word

étoffe

Pronunciation

IPA/etɔf/

Meaning

  • feminine nounfabric

Example

Cette étoffe est très douce.

This fabric is very soft.

Illustration for étoffe (fabric)

More examples

Il a acheté une étoffe pour coudre une robe.

He bought some fabric to sew a dress.

Core concept

A continuous textile surface made from joined fibers, with a distinct weave, knit, feel, and finish.

Common phrases

  • une étoffe légère

    a lightweight fabric

  • un morceau d'étoffe

    a piece of fabric

Similar words

tissu: Everyday cloth used for clothing or furniture.
textile: A broad term for fiber-based products used in clothing and industry.

Definition in French

Matière composée de fibres assemblées par tissage, tricotage ou autre procédé, utilisée comme tissu pour fabriquer des vêtements, des éléments d'ameublement ou d'autres articles textiles.

Word origin

Étoffe comes through Old French estoffe from estofer, meaning to furnish or equip, and later specialized in the material used for textiles.

Usage tips

  • Tissu is the more neutral everyday term, while étoffe often highlights a textile's quality, texture, or finish in formal and product descriptions.

Related words

  • étofferflesh outverb
  • étofféwell-developedadjective

Word lists with this word