Esta página no seu idioma

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

中文

हिन्दी

A2 noun #6,000 mais comum 11 min de leitura

pelle

Top 6,000

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas pelle em 30 segundos

Explicação pelle in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'pelle' is introduced as a basic concrete noun. Learners focus on its primary identity as a tool used for simple tasks like playing in the sand or basic gardening. At this stage, you should learn the word alongside other common objects found in a home or garden. The focus is on the gender (la pelle) and simple sentences like 'J'ai une pelle' (I have a shovel). You might encounter it in picture dictionaries showing a beach scene with a bucket (seau) and a shovel. The goal is simply to recognize the object and its name. You don't need to worry about idioms or complex mechanical uses yet. Just remember that it is a tool for moving things. It is one of those essential 'object' words that help build your foundation of the French physical world. You will likely see it in children's books or introductory vocabulary lists about 'la maison' (the house) or 'les loisirs' (hobbies). Practice saying it clearly: 'pel-le'. It rhymes with 'elle'. Make sure to use the feminine article 'une' or 'la' every single time you say it to build the correct habit from the very beginning.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'pelle' in more varied contexts. You learn that there are different types of shovels: 'pelle à neige' (snow shovel) for winter, and 'pelle à poussière' (dustpan) for cleaning. You start to use verbs like 'creuser' (to dig) or 'ramasser' (to pick up) with 'pelle'. At this level, you should be able to describe a simple chore: 'Je ramasse la poussière avec la pelle et la balayette.' You are also introduced to the culinary 'pelle à tarte', showing that the word isn't just for dirt or snow. This is the level where you start to see 'pelle' as a versatile tool for different rooms of the house. You might also encounter the word in a simple story about gardening or a trip to the beach. The focus is on expanding the noun with adjectives (une grande pelle, une petite pelle) and using it in the plural (des pelles). You should also be aware of the basic pronunciation to avoid confusion with 'poêle'. A2 learners should feel comfortable asking for a pelle in a store or identifying it in a household setting.

By B1, you move beyond the literal tool and start encountering 'pelle' in more idiomatic and professional contexts. You might learn about 'la pelle mécanique' (the excavator) when discussing urban development or construction. You also start to encounter common idioms like 'à la pelle', which means 'in great quantities'. For example, 'Il y a du travail à la pelle' (There is work in abundance). At this level, you should understand that 'pelle' can be used metaphorically. You will also hear the informal expression 'se prendre une pelle' (to take a fall), which is very common in casual conversation among friends or in sports contexts. Your understanding of the word becomes more nuanced; you know the difference between a 'pelle' and a 'bêche' and can explain which one is needed for a specific gardening task. You are also expected to handle the word in different tenses, such as describing a past event: 'Hier, j'ai dû dégager l'entrée avec une pelle.' B1 learners should be able to use 'pelle' in a variety of registers, from describing a construction site to chatting about a clumsy fall.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the B2 level, 'pelle' is used fluently in complex sentences and more specialized registers. You are comfortable with the slang expression 'rouler une pelle' (to French kiss) and know when it is appropriate to use (and when it is definitely not). You understand the social nuances of such idioms. In discussions about history or archaeology, you might read about 'le travail à la pelle' as a symbol of manual labor throughout the ages. You can distinguish between 'pelle', 'truelle', and 'louche' with ease, and you can use the word in technical or literary descriptions. For instance, you might describe a character in a novel 'maniante la pelle avec une vigueur désespérée' (handling the shovel with a desperate vigor). You are also more aware of the word's presence in media, such as news reports about 'de l'argent jeté par les fenêtres à la pelle' (money thrown out the window in heaps). At B2, your vocabulary is rich enough that 'pelle' is just one part of a larger network of related terms like 'déblaiement', 'terrassement', and 'excavation'.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C1 level, you have a deep appreciation for the linguistic versatility of 'pelle'. You can analyze its use in literature, where it might serve as a motif for labor, death, or even rebirth. You understand the etymological roots (from the Latin 'pala') and how this relates to other Romance languages. You are capable of using the word in high-level professional contexts, perhaps in a report on civil engineering or agricultural history. You understand rare or archaic uses of the word and can appreciate puns or wordplay involving 'pelle'. For example, you might understand a clever advertising slogan that plays on both the literal and figurative meanings of the word. Your mastery of the 'pelle' idioms is complete; you can use 'à la pelle' or 'ramasser une pelle' with the perfect tone and timing. You also recognize the word in various regional dialects or specialized jargons (like the specific 'pelles' used in glassmaking or smelting). At this level, the word is no longer a 'vocabulary item' to be studied but a tool in your own linguistic shed, used with precision and flair.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C2 level, your command of 'pelle' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can engage in technical debates about the ergonomics of different 'pelle' designs or the socio-economic history of 'les terrassiers' (manual excavators). You can write evocative, literary prose where the 'cliquetis de la pelle' (the clinking of the shovel) sets a specific mood. You are aware of the most obscure idioms and can even invent creative metaphors using the word that sound natural in French. You understand the subtle differences in meaning between 'pelle' in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec. For example, you are familiar with the Quebecois verb 'pelleter'. You can navigate the most informal slang and the most formal academic discourse without hesitation. The word 'pelle' is fully integrated into your conceptual map of the French language, connected to hundreds of other concepts, from the tactile sensation of the handle to the abstract idea of abundance. You can use it to explain complex ideas, tell jokes, or write technical manuals with equal ease.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

pelle em 30 segundos

A 'pelle' is primarily a shovel or spade used for gardening, construction, or clearing snow. It is a feminine noun in French (la pelle).
Beyond the garden, it refers to a dustpan (pelle à poussière) and a cake server (pelle à tarte), making it a common household word.
Idiomatically, 'à la pelle' means in great abundance, while 'se prendre une pelle' is informal slang for taking a physical fall.
It is distinguished from a 'bêche' (spade) by its scooping function and from 'poêle' (frying pan) by its pronunciation and spelling.

The French noun pelle refers to a tool that is fundamental to human civilization: the shovel or spade. At its most basic level, a pelle consists of a broad, often curved or flat blade attached to a handle, designed for moving bulk materials like earth, snow, coal, or sand. However, in the French language, the word is far more versatile than its English counterpart, extending into the kitchen, the garden, and even into the realm of romantic slang. Understanding when to use 'pelle' requires looking at the context of the action being performed. If you are lifting, scooping, or clearing, you are likely using a pelle.

La Pelle de Chantier: This is the heavy-duty construction shovel used by workers to move gravel or cement. It is the symbol of manual labor and physical effort in the French workforce.

Le jardinier utilise une pelle pour creuser un trou profond dans le sol argileux.

Beyond the garden, you will encounter the 'pelle à poussière', which is the humble dustpan found in every French household. It is almost always paired with a 'balayette' (small brush). In the culinary world, a 'pelle à tarte' is a cake server, essential for moving a delicate slice of Tarte Tatin from the dish to your plate without it falling apart. This versatility makes 'pelle' an A2-level word because it bridges the gap between specialized vocabulary and everyday household items.

Usage Domestique: In domestic settings, the term covers everything from the small scoop used for cat litter (pelle à litière) to the large snow shovel (pelle à neige) used in the Alps or Quebec.

Culturally, the word also carries a heavy weight in idioms. To 'rouler une pelle' is a very common, albeit informal, way to say 'to French kiss'. This usage is so prevalent that many young people hear the word 'pelle' in a romantic or social context long before they ever pick up a gardening tool.

Après la tempête, il a fallu prendre la pelle à neige pour dégager la voiture.

Furthermore, the word 'pelle' appears in mechanical contexts. A 'pelleteuse' is an excavator or backhoe, derived directly from the root word. This connection helps learners expand their vocabulary into heavy machinery and engineering.

Contexte Historique: Historically, the pelle was one of the first tools adapted from animal shoulder blades (scapulae), which explains its flat, broad shape that has remained largely unchanged for millennia.

L'enfant joue sur la plage avec son seau et sa pelle en plastique bleu.

Pour servir le gâteau, j'ai besoin de la pelle à tarte qui est dans le tiroir.

In summary, 'pelle' is a multi-functional noun that spans the gap between labor, housekeeping, dining, and slang. Its simplicity belies its importance in daily life across the Francophone world.

Using the word pelle correctly involves more than just knowing its definition; it requires understanding the specific verbs and prepositions that accompany it. In a literal sense, you 'utilises' (use), 'prends' (take), or 'manies' (handle) a pelle. The actions performed with a pelle are usually 'creuser' (to dig), 'ramasser' (to pick up/scoop), or 'déblayer' (to clear away).

The Action of Digging: When you are in a garden, you might say: 'Je creuse un trou à la pelle.' Here, 'à la' indicates the tool being used for the method of action.

Il a ramassé les feuilles mortes avec une pelle et un râteau.

In the context of cleaning, the phrase 'ramasser à la pelle' is very common. It literally means to pick up with a shovel or dustpan, but figuratively, it can mean to collect something in great quantities. For example, if a business is very successful, one might say they are 'ramassent l'argent à la pelle' (raking in money by the shovelful).

Snow and Winter: In regions like Quebec, 'pelleter' is actually a verb meaning 'to shovel'. While in France you would say 'dégager la neige à la pelle', the verb form is a great example of how the noun evolves.

Attention, ne laisse pas traîner ta pelle dans l'allée, quelqu'un pourrait trébucher.

When discussing the kitchen, the word is almost always followed by a prepositional phrase: 'pelle à tarte', 'pelle à pizza', or 'pelle à poisson'. These specify the function. Without the qualifier, a French person might assume you mean a gardening tool, which would be quite confusing in a dining room! Another interesting usage is in the world of sports and accidents. 'Se prendre une pelle' or 'ramasser une pelle' is slang for taking a nasty fall, often while skiing or cycling. It evokes the image of your face hitting the ground like a shovel hitting the earth.

Le skieur a fait une chute impressionnante et a ramassé une sacrée pelle.

The Metaphorical Shovel: In literature, 'pelle' can symbolize the finality of death (the gravedigger's tool). Using it in this context adds a layer of grit or realism to a sentence.

Il y a des opportunités à la pelle dans ce nouveau secteur technologique.

Elle a utilisé une petite pelle à main pour planter ses bégonias.

By practicing these different contexts—from the literal digging to the figurative falling or kissing—you will master the breadth of the word 'pelle'.

You will hear the word pelle in a variety of real-world French environments, ranging from the mundane to the specialized. If you are walking past a construction site in Paris, you might hear a foreman shouting, 'Où est la pelle ?' or 'Apporte la pelle mécanique !' (Bring the excavator!). The word is ubiquitous in the building trades, representing the most basic unit of manual excavation.

At the Beach: During the summer holidays on the Côte d'Azur, you'll constantly hear parents asking their children, 'Tu as rangé ton seau et ta pelle ?' (Did you put away your bucket and spade?). It is a core part of the French childhood vocabulary.

Sur le chantier, les ouvriers déplacent le sable avec une grande pelle métallique.

In a domestic setting, especially during spring cleaning or after a meal, the word comes up in the phrase 'pelle et balayette'. If someone breaks a glass, the first reaction is often, 'Vite, cherche la pelle et la balayette !' This is the equivalent of 'get the dustpan and brush'. It's a phrase every learner should know for daily life.

In the Kitchen: In a 'boulangerie' or 'pâtisserie', the baker uses a 'pelle à pain' (a long wooden peel) to slide loaves into the hot stone oven. You might hear them talk about the 'enfournement à la pelle'.

In sports commentary, especially in cycling (like the Tour de France) or skiing, announcers use 'pelle' to describe a crash. 'Il a pris une énorme pelle dans le dernier virage' (He took a huge fall in the last turn). This adds a colorful, slightly gritty flavor to the description of the accident.

Le boulanger sort les baguettes du four à l'aide d'une grande pelle en bois.

In Literature and Media: You'll find 'pelle' in news headlines like 'De l'argent à la pelle' when discussing massive profits or government spending. It's a way to emphasize abundance through the imagery of shoveling.

Pendant l'hiver à Montréal, tout le monde possède une pelle robuste dans sa voiture.

Ma grand-mère utilise toujours sa pelle à tarte en argent pour les grandes occasions.

Whether you are in a hardware store (magasin de bricolage), a bakery, or a ski resort, 'pelle' is a word that will frequently cross your path. It is deeply embedded in the practical and idiomatic landscape of the French language.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with pelle is getting the gender wrong. In French, 'pelle' is feminine (la pelle). Beginners often assume that tools, being 'tough' or 'manual', should be masculine, but that is not the case here. Saying 'le pelle' will immediately mark you as a non-native speaker.

Gender Confusion: Common mistake: 'Donne-moi le pelle.' Correct: 'Donne-moi la pelle.' Always associate the tool with feminine adjectives: 'une pelle lourde', 'une pelle cassée'.

Il a acheté une nouvelle pelle pour son jardin (Correct gender usage).

Another major pitfall is the confusion between 'pelle' and 'poêle'. While they sound somewhat similar to an untrained ear, 'un poêle' (masculine) is a stove or a heater, and 'une poêle' (feminine) is a frying pan. Mixing these up can lead to hilarious or confusing situations, like asking to dig a hole with a frying pan or trying to cook eggs on a shovel.

False Friends and Near-Homophones: 'Pelle' (shovel) vs 'Poêle' (frying pan/stove). Practice the 'e' sound in 'pelle' (like 'pet') vs the 'wa' sound in 'poêle' (like 'pwal').

Learners also struggle with the difference between 'pelle' and 'bêche'. In English, we often use 'shovel' and 'spade' interchangeably, but in French, the distinction is stricter. A 'pelle' is for scooping and moving (curved blade), while a 'bêche' is for cutting and turning soil (flat, sharp blade). If you try to use a 'pelle' to cut through thick roots, a French gardener might correct you.

N'utilise pas la pelle pour retourner la terre, prends plutôt la bêche.

Idiomatic Misuse: Using 'rouler une pelle' in a formal or professional setting. This is slang. Using it with your boss or in a formal essay would be a major register error.

J'ai fait une erreur et j'ai dit 'le' pelle au lieu de 'la' pelle.

Finally, avoid overusing the word 'pelle' for mechanical excavators in formal writing. While 'pelle mécanique' is common, the more technical term 'excavatrice' or 'pelleteuse' is often preferred in documentation. By being aware of these nuances, you can avoid common learner traps and speak more naturally.

To truly master the vocabulary around pelle, it is helpful to explore its synonyms and related tools. The French language is quite specific about the function of each implement.

Bêche vs Pelle: A 'bêche' is a spade. It has a flat, rectangular blade and is used for digging into hard ground. A 'pelle' has a more concave blade for scooping loose material.
Truelle: A 'truelle' is a trowel. It is essentially a miniature pelle used by masons for mortar or by gardeners for small plants.

Il a remplacé sa pelle par une bêche pour mieux travailler la terre dure.

In the kitchen, alternatives to 'pelle à tarte' might include 'spatule' (spatula) or 'coupe-tarte'. However, 'pelle' remains the most common term for flat, lifting utensils. For clearing snow, you might hear 'gratte-givre' (ice scraper) for cars, but for the driveway, it is always a 'pelle à neige'.

Godet: In industrial contexts, the 'bucket' of a large excavator is called a 'godet'. While the whole machine might be a 'pelle mécanique', the specific part that scoops is the godet.

When talking about cleaning, 'ramasse-poussière' is a more technical synonym for 'pelle à poussière'. You will often see this on labels in hardware stores. In a more metaphorical sense, if you are 'shoveling' food into your mouth, the French might use the verb 's'empiffrer' (to stuff oneself) rather than a direct translation of shoveling.

La pelle mécanique a creusé les fondations de l'immeuble en une journée.

Louche: For liquids, we use a 'louche' (ladle). Even though it scoops like a pelle, it is never called one because of its deep, bowl-like shape.

Le maçon utilise une truelle plutôt qu'une pelle pour les finitions.

Il y a des fautes d'orthographe à la pelle dans ce texte.

By understanding these distinctions, you can choose the precise word for the situation, making your French sound more sophisticated and accurate.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The term 'pala' (Latin) was also used for the flat part of an altar or a shoulder blade. This explains why 'pelle' is used for so many flat-bladed tools in French today.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /pɛl/

US /pɛl/

The stress is equal on the single syllable, but slightly emphasized on the 'l' sound at the end.

Rima com

elle belle sel tel miel ciel nouvelle gazelle

Erros comuns

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it is silent).
Confusing it with 'poêle' (pronounced pwal).
Making the 'e' sound too long like 'ay'.
Nasalizing the vowel (it is not nasal).
Mistaking the 'p' for a 'b' sound.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text due to its short length and common usage.

Escrita 2/5

Simple spelling, but remember the double 'l' and feminine gender.

Expressão oral 2/5

Must distinguish from 'poêle' and avoid pronouncing the final 'e'.

Audição 2/5

Clear sound, but context is needed to know if it's a tool or an idiom.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

jardin outil terre maison main

Aprenda a seguir

râteau bêche balayer creuser neige

Avançado

terrassement excavatrice godet enfourner finitude

Gramática essencial

Feminine Nouns ending in -e

La pelle, la table, la chaise.

Compound Nouns with 'à'

Pelle à neige, machine à laver, boîte à outils.

Idiomatic Expressions with 'à la'

À la pelle, à la mode, à la va-vite.

Plural of nouns ending in -e

Une pelle -> des pelles.

Gender of tools

La pelle (fem) vs Le marteau (masc).

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Exemplos por nível

J'ai une petite pelle bleue pour le sable.

I have a small blue shovel for the sand.

Focus on the feminine noun 'une pelle'.

La pelle est dans le jardin.

The shovel is in the garden.

Use of the definite article 'la'.

Où est ma pelle ?

Where is my shovel?

Possessive adjective 'ma' (feminine).

Il utilise une pelle.

He is using a shovel.

Subject + verb + object structure.

C'est une pelle en plastique.

It is a plastic shovel.

Describing the material with 'en'.

Donne-moi la pelle, s'il te plaît.

Give me the shovel, please.

Imperative form 'donne-moi'.

La pelle est lourde.

The shovel is heavy.

Adjective agreement (feminine).

Regarde la pelle de l'enfant.

Look at the child's shovel.

Possessive construction with 'de'.

Il ramasse les miettes avec une pelle à poussière.

He picks up the crumbs with a dustpan.

Compound noun 'pelle à poussière'.

Nous avons besoin d'une pelle à neige ce matin.

We need a snow shovel this morning.

Compound noun 'pelle à neige'.

La pelle à tarte est sur la table.

The cake server is on the table.

Culinary context.

Il creuse un trou avec sa pelle.

He is digging a hole with his shovel.

Verb 'creuser'.

Oublie la balayette, prends juste la pelle.

Forget the brush, just take the shovel.

Contrast between two objects.

Ma pelle est cassée, je dois en acheter une autre.

My shovel is broken, I must buy another one.

Use of 'en' to replace the noun.

Les enfants font des châteaux avec leurs pelles.

The children are making castles with their shovels.

Plural form 'pelles'.

Elle utilise une pelle pour mettre le charbon dans le poêle.

She uses a shovel to put the coal in the stove.

Functional usage.

Dans cette région, il y a du travail à la pelle.

In this region, there is plenty of work.

Idiom 'à la pelle' (in abundance).

Le cycliste a ramassé une pelle dans le virage.

The cyclist took a fall in the turn.

Slang 'ramasser une pelle' (to fall).

La pelle mécanique déplace des tonnes de terre.

The excavator moves tons of earth.

Technical term 'pelle mécanique'.

Il a gagné de l'argent à la pelle grâce à son invention.

He made heaps of money thanks to his invention.

Figurative use of 'à la pelle'.

On a dû déblayer le chemin à la pelle après l'avalanche.

We had to clear the path with shovels after the avalanche.

Verb 'déblayer'.

Fais attention à ne pas te prendre une pelle sur la glace.

Watch out not to take a fall on the ice.

Informal warning.

Le jardinier a laissé sa pelle sous la pluie.

The gardener left his shovel in the rain.

Past participle 'laissé'.

Il y a des fautes dans ton texte à la pelle !

There are tons of mistakes in your text!

Using the idiom for negative abundance.

Ils se sont roulé une pelle devant tout le monde.

They French kissed in front of everyone.

Slang 'rouler une pelle'.

L'entreprise recrute des ingénieurs à la pelle.

The company is recruiting engineers in droves.

Professional context for the idiom.

La pelleteuse, ou pelle hydraulique, est indispensable sur ce chantier.

The backhoe, or hydraulic shovel, is indispensable on this site.

Synonyms and technical terms.

Il a ramassé une sacrée pelle en faisant du ski hors-piste.

He took a hell of a fall while skiing off-piste.

Intensifier 'sacrée'.

On ne peut pas vider la mer avec une pelle.

You can't empty the sea with a shovel (meaning: it's a futile task).

Proverbial usage.

La pelle à litière doit être nettoyée régulièrement.

The litter scoop must be cleaned regularly.

Specific household item.

Il a fallu une pelle pour sortir la voiture du fossé.

A shovel was needed to get the car out of the ditch.

Problem-solving context.

Cette boutique propose des gadgets à la pelle.

This shop offers gadgets in abundance.

Descriptive idiom.

Le fossoyeur maniait sa pelle avec une régularité lugubre.

The gravedigger handled his shovel with a dismal regularity.

Literary tone and vocabulary.

Les réformes pleuvent à la pelle, mais rien ne change vraiment.

Reform after reform is announced, but nothing really changes.

Abstract usage of 'à la pelle'.

L'archéologue a délicatement dégagé l'artéfact avec une petite pelle.

The archaeologist delicately cleared the artifact with a small shovel.

Precise adverbial usage.

Elle a ramassé une pelle mémorable lors de sa chute à vélo.

She took a memorable fall during her bike crash.

Adjective 'mémorable' with slang.

Le bruit métallique de la pelle résonnait dans le silence de la mine.

The metallic sound of the shovel echoed in the silence of the mine.

Sensory description.

Il ne faut pas se voiler la face, les problèmes arrivent à la pelle.

We mustn't bury our heads in the sand; problems are coming thick and fast.

Combining idioms.

Le maniement de la pelle demande une certaine technique pour éviter le mal de dos.

Handling a shovel requires a certain technique to avoid back pain.

Nominalization 'le maniement'.

C'est un domaine où les opportunités se ramassent à la pelle.

It's a field where opportunities can be found in abundance.

Passive-style reflexive 'se ramassent'.

L'ouvrier, courbé sur sa pelle, semblait incarner la fatigue séculaire du prolétariat.

The worker, bent over his shovel, seemed to embody the age-old fatigue of the proletariat.

High-level socio-political commentary.

On assiste à une déferlante de critiques à la pelle sur les réseaux sociaux.

We are witnessing a surge of criticisms in heaps on social media.

Metaphorical surge.

Le cliquetis de la pelle contre le silex était le seul son audible dans la lande.

The clinking of the shovel against the flint was the only audible sound on the moor.

Onomatopoeic quality and specific nouns.

Bien que l'on puisse ramasser des données à la pelle, leur analyse reste complexe.

Although data can be collected in massive quantities, its analysis remains complex.

Concessive clause with 'bien que'.

Il s'est pris une pelle magistrale, ce qui a mis fin à ses espoirs de victoire.

He took a masterful (spectacular) fall, which ended his hopes of victory.

Ironic use of 'magistrale'.

L'usage de la pelle à feu est devenu obsolète avec l'arrivée du chauffage central.

The use of the fire shovel became obsolete with the arrival of central heating.

Historical/Technical observation.

Il a fallu pelleter des tonnes de gravats pour atteindre la chambre secrète.

Tons of rubble had to be shoveled to reach the secret chamber.

Verb 'pelleter' in a narrative context.

La métaphore de la pelle dans ce poème souligne la finitude de l'existence.

The metaphor of the shovel in this poem highlights the finitude of existence.

Literary analysis.

Colocações comuns

pelle à neige

pelle à poussière

pelle à tarte

pelle mécanique

pelle à charbon

pelle à pizza

coup de pelle

pelle à litière

pelle de jardin

pelle hydraulique

Frases Comuns

Donner un coup de pelle

— To hit someone or something with a shovel, or to do a bit of shoveling.

Il a donné un coup de pelle pour finir le travail.

La pelle et la balayette

— The dustpan and brush set.

Cherche la pelle et la balayette dans le placard.

Une pelletée de...

— A shovelful of something.

Ajoute une pelletée de terre dans le pot.

Pelle à main

— A hand shovel or trowel.

J'utilise une pelle à main pour mes pots.

Manier la pelle

— To handle or use a shovel.

Il sait manier la pelle avec dextérité.

Pelle de chantier

— A heavy-duty construction shovel.

Les pelles de chantier sont très solides.

Pelle pliante

— A folding shovel (often for camping or military).

Il a une pelle pliante dans son sac.

Pelle à poisson

— A specialized server for fish.

Utilise la pelle à poisson pour le saumon.

Pelle à gateau

— A cake server (synonym for pelle à tarte).

La pelle à gateau est en argent.

Seau et pelle

— Bucket and spade (beach set).

L'enfant a oublié son seau et sa pelle.

Frequentemente confundido com

pelle vs poêle

Sounds similar but means frying pan (fem) or stove (masc).

pelle vs pile

Means a battery or a stack/pile of things.

pelle vs peau

Means skin; starts with the same letter but very different sound.

Expressões idiomáticas

"À la pelle"

— In great abundance or quantities.

Il y a des touristes à la pelle cet été.

informal

"Rouler une pelle"

— To French kiss someone.

Ils se sont roulé une pelle au cinéma.

slang

"Ramasser une pelle"

— To take a heavy fall (often in sports).

J'ai ramassé une pelle en faisant du vélo.

informal

"Se prendre une pelle"

— To fall down or crash.

Attention, tu vas te prendre une pelle !

informal

"Ramasser l'argent à la pelle"

— To make a lot of money very easily.

Cette entreprise ramasse l'argent à la pelle.

informal

"Avoir des problèmes à la pelle"

— To have an overwhelming number of problems.

Depuis son départ, j'ai des problèmes à la pelle.

informal

"Vider la mer à la pelle"

— To attempt a hopeless or impossible task.

Essayer de le convaincre, c'est vider la mer à la pelle.

literary

"Un coup de pelle derrière la tête"

— A sudden shock or bad news that stuns you.

Cette nouvelle a été un coup de pelle derrière la tête.

informal

"Être à la ramasse (et à la pelle)"

— To be completely overwhelmed or lagging behind.

Je suis à la pelle sur mes dossiers.

slang

"Mettre un coup de pelle"

— To work hard or speed up a task.

Il faut mettre un coup de pelle pour finir avant demain.

informal

Fácil de confundir

pelle vs poêle

Phonetic similarity.

'Pelle' has a short 'e' sound. 'Poêle' has a 'wa' sound. One is for digging, the other for cooking.

Je cuisine avec une poêle, je creuse avec une pelle.

pelle vs bêche

Both are gardening tools.

A 'pelle' scoops; a 'bêche' cuts. A 'bêche' is usually flat and rectangular.

Prends la bêche pour couper les racines, pas la pelle.

pelle vs truelle

Both are used for moving material.

A 'truelle' is much smaller and used by masons or for delicate gardening.

Le maçon utilise sa truelle, pas sa pelle, pour le ciment.

pelle vs louche

Both are scooping tools.

A 'louche' is for liquids/soup. A 'pelle' is for solids/dry materials.

On ne sert pas la soupe avec une pelle !

pelle vs balayette

Often used together.

The 'balayette' is the brush; the 'pelle' is the pan that catches the dust.

La balayette pousse la poussière dans la pelle.

Padrões de frases

C'est une [adjective] pelle.

C'est une petite pelle.

J'utilise la pelle pour [verb].

J'utilise la pelle pour ramasser la poussière.

Il y a des [noun] à la pelle.

Il y a des touristes à la pelle.

Il s'est pris une pelle en [verb-ing].

Il s'est pris une pelle en skiant.

Le maniement de la pelle est [adjective].

Le maniement de la pelle est épuisant.

Malgré la pelle, il a [verb].

Malgré la pelle, il a continué la course.

Où est la pelle à [noun] ?

Où est la pelle à tarte ?

On a dû [verb] à la pelle.

On a dû déblayer à la pelle.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

pelletée (shovelful)

pelleteuse (excavator)

pelletage (shoveling)

Verbos

pelleter (to shovel - mostly Quebec)

dépeller (rare/archaic)

Relacionado

bêche

râteau

truelle

pioche

seau

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos

Como usar

frequency

High (especially in household and construction contexts)

Erros comuns

Le pelle → La pelle
Pelle is a feminine noun. Using the masculine article is a common gender error.
Using 'pelle' for 'frying pan' → Poêle
The words sound similar, but a 'pelle' is for digging and a 'poêle' is for cooking.
Pronouncing it 'pel-ay' → pɛl
If you say 'pel-ay', it sounds like 'pelé' (peeled). Keep the 'e' short and the end silent.
Using 'rouler une pelle' with a teacher → Embrasser
This is very informal slang and inappropriate for formal relationships.
Confusing 'pelle' and 'bêche' in the garden → Use 'bêche' for digging hard soil.
A 'pelle' is for moving loose stuff, not for heavy digging in clay.

Dicas

Gender Tip

Always pair 'pelle' with feminine articles. Think of 'Belle' and 'Pelle' together to remember 'la pelle'.

Compound Words

Learn 'pelle à...' combinations. It's the easiest way to specify if you're in the kitchen, garden, or cleaning.

The Silent E

Don't pronounce the last 'e'. It stops at the 'l' sound. This makes it sound distinct from 'pelé' (peeled).

Abundance

Use 'à la pelle' when you want to emphasize that there is way too much of something, like 'des problèmes à la pelle'.

Beach Essentials

If you go to a French beach, 'le seau et la pelle' are the two words you'll hear most from families.

Slang Warning

Be careful with 'rouler une pelle'. It's very informal. Don't use it in a professional setting!

Tool Choice

In a French garden, ask for a 'pelle' for sand/gravel and a 'bêche' for soil. It shows you know your tools.

Cleaning Duo

Always look for 'la pelle et la balayette' together. They are the Batman and Robin of French cleaning.

Snow Shoveling

In Quebec, 'pelleter' is the verb. In France, they 'dégagent la neige à la pelle'.

Visual Aid

Visualize a shovel shaped like a giant 'P'. This helps you remember the first letter and the object.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of a 'Pelle' as a tool for a 'Pal' to help you dig. Or remember that 'Belle' (beautiful) uses a 'Pelle' in the garden.

Associação visual

Imagine a giant 'Pelle' (shovel) being used to serve a giant 'tarte' (pie). This connects the garden tool and the kitchen tool.

Word Web

jardin neige poussière tarte creuser ramasser chantier plage

Desafio

Try to find three different 'pelles' in your house (kitchen, cleaning, garden) and name them aloud: 'pelle à tarte', 'pelle à poussière', 'pelle de jardin'.

Origem da palavra

From the Latin word 'pala', which also meant a shovel, spade, or the shoulder blade of an animal. This Latin root is shared with other Romance languages (e.g., 'pala' in Italian and Spanish).

Significado original: A broad, flat tool for digging or winnowing grain.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > French

Contexto cultural

The term 'rouler une pelle' is informal/slang. Avoid using it in professional or formal settings as it refers to intimate kissing.

In English, we distinguish 'shovel' from 'spade' and 'dustpan'. French uses 'pelle' for all, which can be confusing but also simplifies things once you know the qualifiers.

The song 'La Pelle au Roi' (folk) The character of the gravedigger in Hamlet (translated into French) Construction scenes in 'Germinal' by Zola

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Gardening

creuser un trou
déplacer la terre
pelle de jardin
planter des fleurs

Cleaning

pelle à poussière
balayette
ramasser les miettes
faire le ménage

Winter

pelle à neige
dégager l'allée
tempête de neige
pelleter

Kitchen

pelle à tarte
servir le gâteau
pelle à pizza
couper une part

Slang/Social

rouler une pelle
ramasser une pelle
à la pelle
se prendre une pelle

Iniciadores de conversa

"Est-ce que tu as une pelle à neige dans ta voiture en hiver ?"

"Où ranges-tu la pelle et la balayette chez toi ?"

"Préfères-tu utiliser une pelle ou une bêche pour le jardinage ?"

"As-tu déjà ramassé une grosse pelle en faisant du sport ?"

"À ton avis, est-ce qu'on peut trouver du travail à la pelle dans ta ville ?"

Temas para diário

Décrivez une journée passée à travailler dans le jardin avec une pelle.

Racontez une fois où vous avez 'ramassé une pelle' (une chute) de manière drôle.

Imaginez que vous trouvez de l'argent à la pelle. Que feriez-vous ?

Pourquoi la pelle est-elle un outil si important pour l'humanité ?

Décrivez votre gâteau préféré et comment vous le servez avec une pelle à tarte.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

It is always feminine: 'la pelle' or 'une pelle'. Remember this by associating it with other feminine household items like 'la table'.

It is a slang term for 'to French kiss'. It is very common among young people but should be avoided in formal situations.

A 'pelle' (shovel) has a curved blade for scooping and moving loose material. A 'bêche' (spade) has a flat, sharp blade for cutting into the earth.

It is 'une pelle à poussière'. It is almost always used with a 'balayette' (small brush).

Yes, 'une pelle mécanique' or 'une pelleteuse' refers to a mechanical excavator used in construction.

It means 'in great abundance'. For example, 'Il y a des fautes à la pelle' means there are tons of mistakes.

It is pronounced like the English word 'pell' or the end of 'Michelle'. The 'e' is short and the 'l' is clear. The final 'e' is silent.

In standard French, we usually say 'dégager à la pelle' or 'travailler à la pelle'. In Quebec, the verb 'pelleter' is very common.

It is a cake server or pie server. It is a flat, often triangular tool used to lift slices of cake.

It means to take a bad fall or to crash, especially in cycling or skiing.

Cadastre-se grátis para ver dicas e notas