French word

pli

Pronunciation

IPA/pli/

Meaning

  • masculine nounfold

Example

Fais un pli sur la feuille.

Make a fold in the paper.

Illustration for pli (fold)

More examples

Il y a un pli sur la manche de la chemise.

There is a fold in the shirt sleeve.

Core concept

A lasting line or hollow where a flexible surface has been folded.

Common phrases

  • faire un pli

    make a fold

  • un pli de papier

    a fold in a piece of paper

  • pli marqué

    a pronounced fold

Similar words

plis: A series of overlapping folds in clothing.
ride: A fine, shallow wrinkle in the face or skin.

Definition in French

Ligne ou repli formé lorsque l'on plie du papier, du tissu ou une autre matière, désignant la marque laissée par la pliure.

Word origin

French pli comes through Old French from Latin plicare, meaning 'to fold', and shares this root with the verb plier.

Usage tips

  • Pli is masculine, so the usual form is un pli and its plural is des plis.

Other meanings

  • wrinklenoun
  • pleatnoun

Related words

  • plierfoldverb
  • pliablefoldableadjective
  • pliagefolding techniquenoun

Word lists with this word