French word

tonneau

Pronunciation

IPA/tono/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbarrel

Example

Il y a un tonneau dans la cave.

There is a barrel in the cellar.

Illustration for tonneau (barrel)

More examples

Pour la fête, ils ont amené un tonneau de bière.

For the party, they brought a barrel of beer.

Core concept

A wooden cylinder made from curved staves, holding liquid for storage or transport.

Common phrases

  • un tonneau de bière

    a barrel of beer

Similar words

fût: A wooden barrel used to store or age wine and other alcoholic drinks.
baril: A large container used to transport or store liquids, grains, and similar goods.

Definition in French

Récipient cylindrique, généralement en bois, destiné au stockage et au transport de liquides comme le vin ou l'huile.

Word origin

Tonneau comes from Latin tunna through Old French tonnel, with a historical change in the ending.

Usage tips

  • Tonneau is masculine, so the usual article is un tonneau, as in un tonneau dans la cave.

Other meanings

  • barrel rollnoun

Word lists with this word