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galet
/ɡa.lɛ/
pebble
J'ai ramassé un joli galet lisse sur la plage.
I picked up a nice smooth pebble on the beach.
A small stone rounded and smoothed by the movement of water (waves or river currents).
Les vagues roulent les galets sur le rivage.
The waves roll the pebbles along the shoreline.
Refers specifically to water-worn pebbles, as opposed to sharp or rough stones.
Engineering
technical
A cylindrical or spherical roller component in mechanical systems that rotates to guide or support moving parts.
Le galet de tension de la courroie d'entraînement doit être remplacé.
The drive belt tensioner roller needs to be replaced.
Commonly found in automotive engines, conveyor belts, and sliding door mechanisms.
Collocations
plage de galetspebble beach / shingle beachgalet de massagemassage stonegalet tendendeurtensioner pulley / tension rollerfaire des ricochets avec un galetto skip pebbles across water
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Galet vs. Caillou
Use 'galet' when describing smooth, polished beach stones. Use 'caillou' for generic, potentially jagged rocks or pebbles on gravel roads.
Gold Rule
Gender & Plural
'Galet' is a masculine noun: 'un galet', 'le galet'. The plural is 'des galets'.
Word Origin
Derived from Old French dialects (Norman/Picard) 'gale' meaning 'flat stone' or 'pebble', likely of pre-Roman Celtic origin (*galla), combined with the diminutive suffix '-et'.
Usage Notes
Do not confuse 'galet' with generic stones ('pierres') or rough rocks ('cailloux'). A 'galet' is specifically smooth and rounded, usually by natural erosion or water action. In modern French, it is also used for pebble-shaped items like bath bombs ('galet de bain') or wax melts ('galet de cire').
Word Breakdown
gale
stone / pebble
root-et
diminutive suffix (small)
suffixDictionnaire Français-Anglais