jalousie
C2Formal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
A blind or shutter made of adjustable horizontal slats.
A type of window or door composed of numerous parallel glass, wood, or plastic slats, angled to admit air and light while providing privacy and weather protection.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In modern English, primarily refers to the window type. The original meaning of 'jealousy' (from French) is archaic and no longer used.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is very rare in everyday speech. More likely to be used in architectural, design, or historical contexts.
Connotations
May connote older buildings, tropical or Mediterranean architecture, or a specific architectural style.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly more common in American English in reference to certain window types.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The + adj.] jalousie + [verb] (e.g., The glass jalousie provides ventilation).jalousie + made of + [material]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in architecture, construction, or property renovation businesses.
Academic
Used in architectural history, design, or building technology texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A native speaker might say 'louvred windows' instead.
Technical
Used in architectural specifications, window manufacturing, and historic building conservation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The jalousie panels were painted white.
- It was a classic jalousie design.
American English
- We're considering a jalousie enclosure for the porch.
- The house had jalousie windows throughout.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old house had windows with many small glass slats.
- You can open the slats to let in air.
- They replaced the solid glass doors with louvred ones for better ventilation.
- The architect specified aluminium jalousies for the sunroom.
- The mid-century modern renovation carefully preserved the original glass jalousies.
- Jalousie windows, while excellent for passive ventilation, are less energy-efficient than double-glazed units.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a jealous (jalousie) person peering through the slats of a blind.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: 'jalousie' in English is not 'jealousy' (ревность).
- It is a technical term for a window type, not an emotion.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'jealousy'.
- Pronouncing it like the French 'jalouzie' (with a 'zh' sound) in English.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'jalousie' in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it comes from the French word for jealousy, in modern English it exclusively refers to a type of window or blind with horizontal slats.
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term mostly used in architectural and design contexts.
Louvred window' or 'louvre window' are more commonly understood alternatives.
No, 'jalousie' is only used as a noun (and occasionally as an attributive noun/adjective, e.g., 'jalousie door').