French Conversation · Level 95
60 words
French word
calembour
Pronunciation
IPA/kalɑ̃buʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounpun
Example
Ton calembour m'a fait sourire.
Your pun made me smile.
More examples
Son calembour a détendu l'atmosphère.
His pun relaxed the atmosphere.
Core concept
Two possible interpretations meet in the same wording, turning a surprising connection into a joke.
Common phrases
faire un calembour
make a pun
raconter un calembour
tell a pun
un calembour lourd
a labored pun
Similar words
jeu de mots: A humorous expression that plays on combinations of words.
Definition in French
Jeu de mots qui exploite l'ambiguïté des sons ou des sens pour produire un effet comique ou spirituel.
Word origin
Calembour has no securely established etymology; proposed links with older forms such as calembredaine remain unproven.
Usage tips
- French commonly uses faire un calembour for making a pun, rather than translating the English pattern make a pun word for word.