couteau

knife

noun koo-TOH Less Common

Usage Note

Couteau takes the regular -eaux plural: couteaux. The diminutive canif refers to a small penknife. The expression mettre le couteau sous la gorge ('to hold a knife to someone's throat') means to coerce them.

Examples

"Il coupe le pain avec un couteau."

Natural Translation

He cuts the bread with a knife.

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