French word

poudre

Pronunciation

IPA/pudʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpowder

Example

Il reste de la poudre sur le sol.

There is still powder on the floor.

Illustration for poudre (powder)

More examples

Je prends du café en poudre le matin.

I take instant coffee in the morning.

Core concept

Dry particles that lose their shape when touched and leave a thin residue wherever they spread.

Common phrases

  • café en poudre

    instant coffee

  • lessive en poudre

    laundry detergent powder

Similar words

farine: Wheat flour used in cooking and baking.
sucre: A white crystalline seasoning used to add sweetness.
sel: A white crystalline seasoning used to flavor food.

Definition in French

Substance sèche composée de très petites particules, utilisée comme ingrédient alimentaire, produit cosmétique ou forme pharmaceutique.

Word origin

Old French poudre gave modern French poudre, ultimately from Latin pulvis, pulveris, which denoted dust or powder.

Usage tips

  • The pattern en poudre marks a powdered form, as in lait en poudre, while de la poudre names the substance itself.

Other meanings

  • face powdernoun
  • powdered medicinenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • poudrerpowderverb
  • poudrécovered with powderadjective

Word lists with this word