French word

matériau

Pronunciation

IPA/mateʁjo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmaterial

Example

J'ai besoin d'un matériau léger pour ce projet.

I need a lightweight material for this project.

Illustration for matériau (material)

More examples

Le matériau recyclé réduit l'impact environnemental.

The recycled material reduces the environmental impact.

Core concept

A selected substance that becomes part of a finished object or structure.

Common phrases

  • matériau de construction

    construction material

  • matériau léger

    lightweight material

  • matériau recyclé

    recycled material

Similar words

matière: A material viewed as a physical substance or source material.
matériel: The tools, equipment, and facilities used for a task.
élément: An essential part or element forming something larger.

Definition in French

Matière ou composant utilisé comme élément de base dans la fabrication d'un produit, d'un ouvrage ou d'une structure.

Word origin

The French noun matériau ultimately comes from Latin materia, meaning matter or material, through Old French forms.

Usage tips

  • Matériau is masculine, with un matériau in the singular and des matériaux in the plural.

Other meanings

  • raw materialnoun
  • substancenoun

Opposites

  • l'immatérielthe immaterialnoun

Word lists with this word