§ Don't confuse 'espadrille' with other shoes
The word 'espadrille' refers specifically to a type of shoe with a distinctive plaited fiber sole, often made of jute or rope. It's a casual, summery shoe. Learners sometimes mistakenly use 'espadrille' to refer to any light shoe or sandal, but that's not quite right.
§ Gender agreement: 'une espadrille' (feminine)
'Espadrille' is a feminine noun in French. This means you need to use feminine articles and adjectives with it. A common mistake is to treat it as masculine. Remember: une espadrille, les espadrilles.
J'ai acheté une nouvelle espadrille bleue pour l'été. (I bought a new blue espadrille for the summer.)
Ces espadrilles sont très confortables. (These espadrilles are very comfortable.)
§ Usage in context: casual footwear
Espadrilles are typically worn in warm weather and for casual occasions. While they can be stylish, they're generally not appropriate for very formal events. Avoid using 'espadrille' when you mean a dress shoe, a sneaker, or heavy-duty footwear.
§ Plural form: adding an 's'
Like most French nouns, to make 'espadrille' plural, you simply add an 's' at the end: 'espadrilles'. This applies whether you're talking about a pair or multiple single shoes.
Combien d'espadrilles avez-vous ? (How many espadrilles do you have?)
§ Pronunciation pitfalls
The 'll' in 'espadrille' is pronounced like a 'y' sound in English, similar to 'vanilla' or 'brilliant'. Don't pronounce it as a hard 'l' sound. The 'e' at the end is silent.
- Incorrect: es-pa-dril-luh (with a hard 'l' and pronounced 'e')
- Correct: es-pa-dree-yuh
By being mindful of these common errors, you'll use 'espadrille' more accurately and naturally in your French conversations. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time!
셀프 테스트 6 질문
This sentence describes having a new pair of espadrilles for summer.
This sentence states that the espadrilles are very comfortable for walking.
This sentence describes her often wearing espadrilles with her summer dresses.
/ 6 correct
Perfect score!
예시
J'ai enfilé mes espadrilles pour aller à la plage.
관련 콘텐츠
clothing 관련 단어
à carreaux
A1Checked, plaid pattern.
à pois
A1Polka-dotted, having dots.
abîmer
A1To damage, to spoil a garment.
accessoire
A2An item that can be added to an outfit to make it more attractive or useful; accessory.
accrocher
A1To attach something to a hook or hanger; to hang up.
ajuster
B1To make small changes to fit or appearance; to adjust.
ample
A1Having plenty of room; loose-fitting, ample.
anorak
A1An anorak, a waterproof jacket with a hood.
assortir
B1To combine clothes or accessories that go well together; to match.
beige
A1Of the color beige, a pale sandy fawn color.
