French word

boulon

Pronunciation

IPA/bulɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbolt

Example

J'ai perdu le boulon de la roue.

I lost the bolt from the wheel.

Illustration for boulon (bolt)

More examples

Peux-tu tenir l'écrou pendant que je serre le boulon?

Can you hold the nut while I tighten the bolt?

Core concept

A threaded metal shaft passing through parts and tightening against a nut to hold them together.

Common phrases

  • retirer le boulon

    take out the bolt

  • vérifier le boulon

    inspect the bolt

  • le boulon de la porte

    the bolt on the door

Similar words

vis: A slender threaded fastener screwed directly into material.
écrou: A small internally threaded ring that receives a screw for fastening.
rondelle: A thin circular metal piece placed beneath a screw or nut to reduce pressure.

Definition in French

Tige métallique filetée destinée à être serrée contre un écrou pour fixer deux ou plusieurs pièces entre elles.

Word origin

French boulon was borrowed from Italian bullone, a term for a threaded fastening device.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a vis, a boulon normally works with a separate nut, while a vis screws directly into the material or a prepared hole.

Related words

  • boulonnerfasten with boltsverb
  • boulonnagebolt fasteningnoun

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