French word

vitrine

Pronunciation

IPA/vitʁin/

Meaning

  • feminine nounstore window

Example

Je regarde la vitrine du magasin.

I am looking at the store window.

Illustration for vitrine (store window)

More examples

La fille regarde les poupées dans la vitrine.

The girl looks at the dolls in the shop window.

Core concept

A transparent storefront display where products are arranged for passers-by to see.

Common phrases

  • devant la vitrine

    in front of the shop window

Similar words

rayon: An in-store section where similar products are grouped and displayed.
devanture: A shop's street-facing frontage, with features such as the entrance and sign.

Definition in French

Espace vitré, généralement en façade d'un commerce, conçu pour exposer des marchandises afin qu'elles soient visibles depuis l'extérieur.

Word origin

The word vitrine is built on vitre, a French word for glass or a glass pane, inherited through Old French from Latin vitrum.

Usage tips

  • French vitrine can name a whole shop window or its display, whereas English vitrine more often means a glass display case.

Other meanings

  • display casenoun
  • glass casenoun

Word lists with this word