Usage Note
Étui refers to a small protective case or cover for an object — un étui à lunettes (glasses case), un étui de téléphone (phone case), un étui de pistolet (gun holster). The word is invariably masculine and was borrowed into English in the 18th century for a decorative needle case.
Examples
"Range tes lunettes dans leur étui."
Natural Translation
Put your glasses in their case.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
5 min read