French word

outil

Pronunciation

IPA/uti/

Meaning

  • masculine nountool

Example

J'ai besoin d'un outil pour réparer la chaise.

I need a tool to repair the chair.

Illustration for outil (tool)

More examples

J'utilise un outil informatique pour organiser mes photos.

I use an IT tool to organize my photos.

Core concept

Something placed in a task's service, whether it is held in the hand, opened on a screen, or applied as a method.

Common phrases

  • outil informatique

    IT tool

  • outil de travail

    work tool

  • outil manuel

    hand tool

Similar words

matériel: Equipment needed for a task or activity.
appareil: A device or machine powered by electricity or another mechanism.
instrument: A tool used for precise work or measurement.
logiciel: A computer program designed for a specific task.

Definition in French

Objet ou moyen employé pour réaliser, réparer ou faciliter une tâche, matériel (outil physique) ou immatériel (méthode, logiciel).

Word origin

The noun developed from Old French ostil or ustil, borrowed from Latin utile, a substantivized form of utilis meaning useful.

Usage tips

  • French uses outil more broadly than English often uses tool, including expressions such as outil numérique for software and outil méthodologique for a method.

Other meanings

  • instrumentnoun

Related words

  • outillagetoolsnoun
  • outillerequipverb
  • outilléequippedadjective

Word lists with this word