French word

tambourin

Pronunciation

IPA/tɑ̃buʁɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nountambourine

Example

Peux-tu me prêter ton tambourin ?

Can you lend me your tambourine?

Illustration for tambourin (tambourine)

More examples

Il va acheter un tambourin au magasin de musique.

He is going to buy a tambourine at the music store.

Core concept

A shallow round frame that produces ringing accents as its attached metal discs jingle or its rim is struck.

Common phrases

  • acheter un tambourin

    buy a tambourine

  • donner un tambourin

    give a tambourine

Similar words

tambour: A drum with a cylindrical shell and a skin or synthetic head, struck by hand or sticks.
percussion: A general term for instruments played by striking or shaking them.

Definition in French

Instrument à percussion constitué d'un cercle portant de petits disques métalliques, que l'on serre, secoue ou frappe à la main pour produire des accents rythmiques.

Word origin

Old French tamborin developed into modern French tambourin as a derivative of tambour, whose related forms include Italian tamburo and Latin tympanum.

Usage tips

  • In tambourin, the final n is not pronounced as a separate consonant because -in marks a nasal vowel.

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