§ What 'hublot' means
- French Word
- hublot
- Pronunciation
- /y.blo/
- Part of Speech
- masculine noun
- Definition
- A porthole or a small window on a plane or ship.
Alright, let's learn about the French word 'hublot'. This is a practical word, especially if you're talking about travel, whether by air or by sea. Simply put, a 'hublot' is a porthole. Think of those round, small windows you see on a ship, or the smaller, often oval-shaped windows you look out of on an airplane. That's a 'hublot'!
§ When to use 'hublot'
You'll use 'hublot' when you specifically want to refer to those particular types of windows. You wouldn't use it for a regular window in a house (that would be 'une fenêtre'). It's quite specific, which makes it easier to remember!
Here are some common situations where you'd hear or use 'hublot':
- On a plane: When you're flying, you look out of the 'hublot'.
- On a ship or boat: If you're on a cruise or a ferry, the round windows in the cabins or along the deck are 'des hublots'.
- In submarine contexts: Although less common for everyday conversation, a submarine would also have 'des hublots'.
It's a useful word for describing what you see or where you sit when traveling. For example, if you want a window seat on a plane, you'd be asking for a seat by the 'hublot'.
Je préfère être assis près du hublot dans l'avion. (I prefer to be seated near the porthole/window on the plane.)
Regarde par le hublot, on voit la mer! (Look through the porthole, we can see the sea!)
Les hublots du bateau sont ronds. (The ship's portholes are round.)
Notice that 'hublot' is a masculine noun. This means when you use it with articles, you'll use 'le' for singular and 'les' for plural. If you need to describe it, the adjectives will also follow masculine agreement. For example, 'un grand hublot' (a big porthole).
Knowing 'hublot' will definitely help you navigate conversations about travel and make your French sound more natural and precise. It's a fundamental vocabulary word for describing your surroundings when you're on the move.
Test Yourself 6 questions
Pendant le vol long-courrier, j'ai aimé regarder les nuages à travers le ___.
The sentence describes looking at clouds during a long-haul flight, making 'hublot' (porthole/window) the most appropriate word.
En croisière, ma cabine avait un grand ___ qui offrait une vue imprenable sur la mer.
The context is a cruise cabin with a great sea view, so 'hublot' (porthole/window) fits perfectly.
Pour la sécurité, il est important que tous les ___ du sous-marin soient bien scellés avant la plongée.
The sentence discusses sealing openings on a submarine for safety before diving, indicating 'hublots' (portholes) are the correct choice.
Le pilote a demandé de fermer les stores des ___ juste avant le décollage.
Pilots ask passengers to close window shades on planes before takeoff, making 'hublots' (windows) the logical answer.
Malgré la tempête, le vieux navire a résisté et aucun ___ n'a été brisé.
In the context of a storm at sea, 'hublot' (porthole) refers to the part of the ship that could break, making it the correct option.
Les passagers se sont pressés pour voir la terre au travers des ___ du ferry.
Passengers look through windows (hublots) to see land from a ferry.
/ 6 correct
Perfect score!
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