French word

parachute

Pronunciation

IPA/paʁaʃyt/

Meaning

  • masculine nounparachute

Example

Il a sauté en parachute hier.

He jumped by parachute yesterday.

Illustration for parachute (parachute)

More examples

Le parachute ne s'est pas ouvert.

The parachute did not open.

Core concept

A broad canopy and suspension lines catch air to slow a person or object into a safe landing.

Common phrases

  • sauter en parachute

    jump by parachute

  • ouvrir le parachute

    open the parachute

Similar words

chute: A fall involving a person or an object.
saut: A jump from the ground or a raised surface.

Definition in French

Dispositif formé d'une grande toile et de suspentes, destiné à ralentir la chute d'une personne ou d'un objet pour assurer un atterrissage en toute sécurité.

Word origin

French parachute combines para-, from parer meaning 'to protect against', with chute meaning 'fall', forming a device that protects against a fall.

Usage tips

  • Parachute is masculine, so the noun takes le or un, as in un parachute and le parachute.

Related words

Word lists with this word