coudre

Coudre is a French verb meaning to sew, i.e., to join fabric or other materials by stitching. It covers both hand sewing and sewing with a machine, as well as decorative stitching and repair work. The infinitive is coudre; its present tense forms are je couds, tu couds, il coud, nous cousons, vous cousez, ils cousent. The past participle is cousu; compound tenses use the auxiliary avoir, and the participle may agree with a preceding direct object (e.g., les chemises que j’ai cousues).

The verb is of Old French origin; its exact root is uncertain, with cognates in related Romance languages. It is closely linked to the noun couture and to the broader domain of sewing, tailoring, and textile crafts. In modern French, coudre is used in everyday language and in technical contexts such as fashion and upholstery.

Usage: Coudre describes sewing actions on fabrics and materials, by hand or with a sewing machine. Common phrases include coudre à la main (to hand-sew) and coudre à la machine (to machine-sew). Examples: Je couds une chemise; Elle a cousu un bouton; Nous avons cousu des rideaux.

Techniques and tools: Basic tools include l'aiguille (needle), le fil (thread), and des ciseaux (scissors); a thimble, a measuring tape, and a sewing machine are common as well. Typical stitches include le point droit (running stitch) and le point arrière (backstitch); zigzag stitch is le point zigzag. The craft also encompasses couture and professional sewing, such as dressmaking and upholstery.

See also: Couture, couturière/couturier, textile crafts.