French word

allumette

Pronunciation

IPA/alymɛt/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmatch

Example

Tu as une allumette ?

Do you have a match?

Illustration for allumette (match)

More examples

Il ne reste qu'une seule allumette.

There is only one match left.

Core concept

A slender wooden or cardboard stick with a friction-sensitive head that bursts into a small flame.

Common phrases

  • la dernière allumette

    the last match

  • boîte d'allumettes

    matchbox

Similar words

briquet: A small reusable device that produces a flame from built-in fuel.
boîte d'allumettes: A small box for storing and carrying matches.

Definition in French

Bâtonnet combustible, généralement en bois ou en carton, destiné à produire une flamme par friction de sa tête.

Word origin

Allumette derives from the verb allumer, 'to light', with the French diminutive suffix -ette, while allumer continues Latin illuminare through Old French.

Usage tips

  • Allumette is feminine, so the standard singular forms are une allumette and cette allumette.

Related words

Word lists with this word