French · Food & Drink
"Knife" in French: couteau
le couteau
Knife in French is le couteau, masculine. Plural is les couteaux with x. Passe-moi le couteau means pass me the knife.
Chopping onions
Attention, le couteau est très aiguisé.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce couteau
Say it
koo-TOH
/ku.to/
Couteau: koo-TOH. Silent final consonants. Plural couteaux sounds the same.
"Knife" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le couteau | the knife Default noun. | Default noun. |
| un couteau | a knife Asking for one. | Asking for one. |
| les couteaux | the knives Plural in -x. | Plural in -x. |
| un couteau de cuisine | a kitchen knife Cooking. | Cooking. |
How to use couteau in real life
- 1Chopping onions
Attention, le couteau est très aiguisé.
Careful—the knife is very sharp.
Le couteau.
- 2Table setting
Il manque un couteau à côté de l'assiette.
There's a knife missing beside the plate.
Un couteau.
- 3Drawer check
Range les couteaux dans le bloc.
Put the knives back in the block.
Les couteaux.
Mistakes English speakers make with couteau
Incorrect: Les couteaus.
Correct: Les couteaux.
Plural of -eau is -eaux.
Incorrect: La couteau.
Correct: Le couteau.
Couteau is masculine.
Good to know
At a French table, the couteau sits on the right. In kitchens, un bon couteau matters more than a huge set—one chef's knife covers most jobs.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Preparing salad
ChatPal
Tu coupes les tomates avec quel couteau ?
Which knife are you using for the tomatoes?
You
Le petit couteau, pas le grand.
The small knife, not the big one.
ChatPal
OK. Lave le couteau avant le fromage.
OK. Wash the knife before the cheese.
You
Déjà fait.
Already done.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Knife" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Knife" in French
How do you say knife in French?
Le couteau.
How do you say knives?
Les couteaux.
Is couteau masculine?
Yes: un couteau.
How do you pronounce couteau?
koo-TOH.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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