French word

coton

Pronunciation

IPA/kotɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncotton

Example

Cette chemise est en coton.

This shirt is made of cotton.

Illustration for coton (cotton)

More examples

Les draps en coton sont doux et respirants.

The cotton sheets are soft and breathable.

Core concept

Soft, absorbent plant fiber spun into thread and made into clothing, towels, and hygiene products.

Common phrases

  • chemise en coton

    cotton shirt

  • drap en coton

    cotton bed sheet

  • sac en coton

    cotton tote bag

Similar words

tissu: Woven or knitted material used for clothing, curtains, and other items.
laine: A soft fiber from animal hair, used for warm clothing such as sweaters.
soie: A smooth, lustrous natural fiber made from silkworm cocoons for luxury clothing.
lin: A strong, cool natural fiber from plant stems, used for summer clothing and linens.

Definition in French

Désigne la fibre textile naturelle, douce et absorbante, employée pour fabriquer des tissus, des linges et des produits d'hygiène.

Word origin

French coton came through Italian cotone from Arabic quṭn, a borrowing that entered European languages through Mediterranean trade.

Usage tips

  • Coton is masculine, so the standard article is le coton, and the material is usually uncountable in French.

Other meanings

  • cotton plantnoun
  • cotton fabricnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word