French word

caleçon

Pronunciation

IPA/kalsɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noununderpants

Example

Mes caleçons sont dans la machine.

My underpants are in the washing machine.

Illustration for caleçon (underpants)

More examples

Elle a acheté des caleçons pour son mari.

She bought boxer shorts for her husband.

Core concept

A garment worn under clothes around the waist and between the legs, ranging from short briefs to longer boxer-style underwear.

Common phrases

  • des caleçons en coton

    cotton boxer shorts

  • un caleçon moulant

    a pair of tight-fitting boxer shorts

  • porter des caleçons

    wear boxer shorts

Similar words

boxer: Loose men's underwear extending to the thighs.

Definition in French

Désigne un sous-vêtement porté au niveau des hanches et de l'entrejambe, utilisé surtout pour les hommes et souvent employé au pluriel pour parler de plusieurs pièces.

Word origin

The word was borrowed through Italian calzone, an enlarged form related to calza, whose history leads back to Latin calceus, a shoe.

Usage tips

  • French uses un caleçon for one item and des caleçons for several, while the plural is also common when referring to underwear generally.

Other meanings

  • trunksnoun
  • boxer shortsnoun

Word lists with this word