French Conversation · Level 3
88 words
French word
mule
Pronunciation
IPA/myl/
Meaning
- feminine nounmule
Example
Elle porte des mules en été.
She wears mules in summer.
More examples
Il a acheté des mules en solde.
He bought mules on sale.
Core concept
A low shoe with a covered front and no heel enclosure, ready to slide onto the foot without a fastening.
Common phrases
porter des mules
wear mules
mules à talon
heeled mules
mules en cuir
leather mules
Similar words
pantoufle: A soft indoor slipper commonly worn around the home.
chausson: A soft, close-fitting indoor shoe that follows the shape of the foot.
sandale: An open shoe held on the foot by straps across the instep, usually worn barefoot.
tong: A thin beach or pool shoe secured by a strap between the toes.
Definition in French
Désigne une chaussure ouverte au talon, qui couvre l'avant du pied et se glisse facilement sans fermeture, souvent portée à l'intérieur ou par temps chaud.
Word origin
Mule is an old French footwear term inherited through Middle French, whereas the animal sense continues Latin mula; the two senses have distinct histories despite their identical spelling.
Usage tips
- The plural des mules can also refer to the animal or, in informal contexts, a carrier of illicit goods, so the surrounding nouns and verbs determine the sense.
Other meanings
- drug mulenoun