French word

chapeau

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃapo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhat

Example

Il a perdu son chapeau dans le bus.

He lost his hat on the bus.

Illustration for chapeau (hat)

More examples

Il a mis son chapeau parce qu'il faisait froid.

He put on his hat because it was cold.

Core concept

A head covering that can shield the head, complete an outfit, or signal a role or occasion.

Common phrases

  • porter un chapeau

    wear a hat

  • enlever son chapeau

    take off one's hat

  • perdre son chapeau

    lose one's hat

  • un chapeau de paille

    a straw hat

Similar words

casquette: A casual hat with a front brim for blocking sunlight and glare.
béret: A soft, flat, round hat that is easy to shape by hand.
bonnet: A warm knitted hat that covers the whole head.

Definition in French

Accessoire placé sur la tête, employé pour protéger, orner ou marquer une fonction (uniforme, cérémonie).

Word origin

French chapeau developed from Old French forms related to Latin cappellus, a diminutive of cappa, meaning a cape or hood.

Usage tips

  • Chapeau is masculine, so standard forms include un chapeau and ce chapeau; its plural is chapeaux, with -x silent.

Other meanings

  • hats offinterjection

Word lists with this word