French word

hache

Pronunciation

IPA/aʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounaxe

Example

La hache est lourde, fais attention.

The axe is heavy, so be careful.

Illustration for hache (axe)

More examples

Il coupe du bois à la hache.

He cuts wood with an ax.

Core concept

A handled metal blade raised and brought down to break, cut, or fell wood.

Common phrases

  • couper du bois à la hache

    cut wood with an ax

  • utiliser une hache

    use an ax

Similar words

couteau: A small tool with a metal blade for cutting things.
outil: An implement used to carry out a task.
marteau: A tool with a metal head for driving nails or striking objects.
scie: A tool with a toothed blade for cutting wood.

Definition in French

Désigne un outil constitué d'une tête tranchante fixée à un manche, utilisé pour fendre, couper ou abattre du bois.

Word origin

Old French hache passed into French from a Germanic source; its precise Germanic ancestor is not established with certainty.

Usage tips

  • The idiom enterrer la hache de guerre means to make peace, not literally only to bury a weapon.

Related words

  • hacherchopverb
  • hachéchoppedadjective
  • hachettehatchetnoun

Word lists with this word