French word

cuir

Pronunciation

IPA/kɥiʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounleather

Example

J'ai acheté un porte-monnaie en cuir.

I bought a leather wallet.

Illustration for cuir (leather)

More examples

Il porte une veste en cuir.

He is wearing a leather jacket.

Core concept

Processed animal hide serving as a strong, flexible material for making bags, shoes, clothing, and accessories.

Common phrases

  • sac en cuir

    leather bag

  • veste en cuir

    leather jacket

  • chaussures en cuir

    leather shoes

Similar words

peau: The soft outer layer covering a person's or animal's body.
simili-cuir: A low-cost synthetic material that is easy to maintain.
fourrure: Processed animal hide with its hair left on, used for warmth and decoration.

Definition in French

Matériau obtenu en traitant la peau d'animaux, principalement utilisé pour confectionner vêtements, accessoires et chaussures.

Word origin

Cuir is an inherited French form from Latin corium through Old French, with the meaning changing from hide in general to treated hide used as leather.

Usage tips

  • In porte-monnaie en cuir, en cuir identifies the material, much like en bois or en métal identifies what an object is made of.

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