French word

mallette

Pronunciation

IPA/malɛt/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbriefcase

Example

J'ai mis ma mallette dans le coffre de la voiture.

I put my briefcase in the trunk of the car.

Illustration for mallette (briefcase)

More examples

Il a oublié sa mallette au café.

He forgot his briefcase at the cafe.

Core concept

A small, firm handled case carried by hand with papers and files inside.

Common phrases

  • ouvrir la mallette

    open the briefcase

  • fermer la mallette

    close the briefcase

  • une mallette en cuir

    a leather briefcase

Similar words

porte-documents: A slim, flat case for carrying documents.
serviette: A foldable, thin leather or fabric case for carrying documents.
attaché-case: A small document case with a rigid exterior and metal clasps.
sacoche: A small leather or fabric shoulder bag with a pouch-like shape.

Definition in French

Petit coffre portatif, rigide ou semi-rigide, destiné à contenir et transporter des documents et des dossiers, généralement pourvu d'une poignée.

Word origin

French mallette derives from malle, a trunk or large chest, with the diminutive suffix -ette indicating a smaller case.

Usage tips

  • Mallette is feminine, so standard phrases use une mallette and ma mallette.

Other meanings

  • attache casenoun

Word lists with this word