French word

barreau

Pronunciation

IPA/baʁo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbar

Example

Le prisonnier regarde par les barreaux de la fenêtre.

The prisoner looks through the bars of the window.

Illustration for barreau (bar)

More examples

La main de l'enfant est coincée entre les barreaux de la fenêtre.

The child's hand is stuck between the bars on the window.

Core concept

Parallel bars close an opening like a grille, and the word also names a body grouped behind the legal bar.

Common phrases

  • les barreaux de la fenêtre

    window bars

  • les barreaux de la prison

    prison bars

  • les barreaux de la cage

    cage bars

Similar words

grille: A gridded cover attached to a window or gate, made from metal or wood.
barre: A narrow, elongated piece of metal or wood.
grillage: A mesh covering or fence formed from thin interwoven metal wires.
barrière: A barrier placed across an area to prevent passage.

Definition in French

Désigne une barre ou un ensemble de barres formant une grille ou une barrière, et par extension le corps des avocats (le barreau).

Word origin

French formed barreau from barre with the suffix -eau, first naming a bar or small barrier before developing its professional collective meaning.

Usage tips

  • The singular barreau and plural barreaux sound alike, but the plural adds x in writing.

Other meanings

  • bar associationnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word