French word

matelas

Pronunciation

IPA/matəla/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmattress

Example

Ce matelas est trop mou.

This mattress is too soft.

Illustration for matelas (mattress)

More examples

J'ai acheté un matelas confortable hier.

I bought a comfortable mattress yesterday.

Core concept

A resilient bed layer shaped to carry the body through a night's sleep.

Common phrases

  • un matelas confortable

    a comfortable mattress

  • housse de matelas

    mattress cover

  • acheter un matelas

    buy a mattress

Similar words

lit: A flat bed platform or frame for lying down, with a mattress placed on top.
oreiller: A small, soft, padded item that supports the head and neck.
drap: A thin bed sheet that rests against the skin while sleeping.
couette: A warm bed covering filled with down or synthetic fibers.

Definition in French

Article de literie rectangulaire constitué de couches de mousse, de ressorts ou d'autres matériaux, destiné à soutenir le corps pendant le sommeil.

Word origin

The French word matelas was borrowed from Italian materasso, which ultimately comes from Arabic maṭraḥ, a place for laying something down.

Usage tips

  • The final s in matelas is silent, and the singular and plural have the same pronunciation: un matelas and des matelas.

Word lists with this word