French Conversation · Level 102
60 words
French word
colporteur
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔlpɔʁtœʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounpeddler
Example
Un colporteur vend des journaux dans le quartier.
A peddler sells newspapers in the neighborhood.
More examples
Au marché, le colporteur propose parfois des objets d'occasion aux passants.
At the market, the peddler sometimes offers used items to passersby.
Core concept
A roaming street seller carrying a few newspapers, books, or small objects directly to customers.
Similar words
vendeur ambulant: A street vendor who carries goods around and sells them directly.
marchand ambulant: A traveling merchant who goes through streets and neighborhoods selling goods.
camelot: A street seller who peddles newspapers or small items.
vendeur: A person who sells goods in a shop, market, or similar place.
Definition in French
Personne qui, en se déplaçant de porte en porte ou dans les rues, vend des objets ou des livres à petite échelle.
Word origin
The noun is formed from the French verb colporter, whose parts are col, 'neck', and porter, 'to carry', for carrying merchandise while traveling.
Usage tips
- Modern French more often uses vendeur ambulant or marchand ambulant for a comparable seller, while colporteur can sound dated.