platine

platinum; turntable

noun plah-TEEN Rare

Usage Note

Platine has two distinct meanings depending on gender: le platine (masculine) is the precious metal platinum, while la platine (feminine) is a turntable or record player. In jewellery contexts platine is masculine; in audio/DJ contexts it is feminine. The metal takes its name from Spanish plata (silver) because of its silvery appearance. Watch the gender carefully — it changes the meaning entirely.

Examples

"Le DJ pose le disque sur la platine."

Natural Translation

The DJ places the record on the turntable.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Liaison Rules: When to Link Words (and Not To)

French liaison links a silent final consonant to the next vowel. Learn the obligatory, forbidden, and optional rules, plus the s→z and d→t sound shifts.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Sorry in French: Désolé vs Pardon vs Excusez-moi

Use désolé for genuine regret, pardon to bump or squeeze past, and excusez-moi to get attention. A situation-by-situation guide to saying sorry in French.

June 4, 2026 5 min read