Level A1 (Beginner)
This lesson focuses on the feminine noun les chaussures, meaning “shoes”. Many people have a very hard time with the pronunciation of this word. It sounds like “show-sure”.
Pronunciation
Example sentences
Pronunciation
Example sentences
This first example sentence uses the verb mettre which means both to put or place (as in an object) and to put on (clothing, jewelry, makeup, etc.)
D’abord je mets mes chaussettes et après je mets mes chaussures.
First I put on my socks and after I put on my shoes.
For this second sentence, les chaussures à talon means high-heeled shoes, with talon meaning both heel and cheque stub.
Sylvie met ses chaussures à talon avant d’aller à la soirée.
Sylvie puts on her high-heeled shoes before going to the party.
Interestingly, the word chaussure is also applied to some kinds of boots. Hence, les chaussures de ski (ski boots). Note that here is a French word for boots: Les bottes (f).
Les skieurs vont louer des chaussures de ski à Chamonix.
The skiers are going to rent ski boots in Chamonix.
Les souliers
The term les souliers (m) also means shoes in some parts of the French-speaking world, particularly in Canada. This word comes from older French. J’achète des souliers en cuir (I am buying leather shoes).
Word origin
Chaussure comes from chaucëure in Old French and calceus (shoe) in Latin.
Related lessons
Reference
