French Conversation · Level 103
60 words
French word
bobine
Pronunciation
IPA/bobin/
Meaning
- feminine nounspool
Example
La bobine de fil est vide, il faut en mettre une autre.
The spool of thread is empty; we need to put in another one.
More examples
La machine à coudre ne démarre pas sans bobine.
The sewing machine won't start without a bobbin.
Core concept
A wound length of material sits around a central core, whether it forms a sewing spool or a technical coil.
Common phrases
remplacer la bobine
replace the bobbin
mettre une bobine neuve
put in a new bobbin
Similar words
rouleau: A cylindrical roll of paper, fabric, or similar material.
Definition in French
Objet cylindrique servant à enrouler du fil, du ruban ou un câble, et par extension pièce comportant un enroulement (par exemple bobine électrique).
Word origin
French bobine is attested in older French for a reel or spool, and later technical usage applied it to a coil.
Usage tips
- In electrical contexts, bobine usually means a coil or winding, whereas English bobbin most often names the small spool holding thread.
Other meanings
- reelnoun
Related words
- bobinerwindverb