Learn French: Ces chaussettes de laine sont chaudes.

Ces chaussettes de laine sont chaudes.

These woollen socks are warm.

Breakdown of Ces chaussettes de laine sont chaudes.

Questions & Answers about Ces chaussettes de laine sont chaudes.

Why is it de laine and not de la laine?

When describing what an object is made of, French uses the preposition de (or en) followed directly by the material. You must drop the definite article (la, le, or les). Literally, it translates to "socks of wool."

Could I say en laine instead of de laine?

Yes, absolutely! Both de laine and en laine are correct and widely used to mean "made of wool." In modern spoken French, en is often the go-to choice for materials (like en coton or en cuir), but de is completely natural here.

Doesn't the adjective chaudes usually mean "hot"?

French uses the exact same word, chaud, for both "warm" and "hot." You have to rely on context to know which one makes sense. When talking about winter clothing like socks, a sweater, or a coat, "warm" is the most natural English translation.

Why does chaudes end in -es when laine is just singular?