lacoste
B1Neutral to informal in everyday contexts when discussing fashion; formal in business contexts discussing the brand.
Definition
Meaning
A proper noun, originally a French surname, now most commonly associated with a global clothing and perfume brand known for its polo shirts featuring a crocodile logo.
Beyond the brand, it can refer to clothing items from that brand, to their signature style (preppy, sporty elegance), or be used colloquially to reference the crocodile logo itself. In some contexts, it can evoke connotations of tennis heritage, French style, or a certain socio-economic status.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a proper noun, typically capitalised. Its meaning is almost entirely anchored to the brand entity. Its use as a common noun (e.g., "He was wearing a Lacoste") is a metonymic shift, referring to an item produced by the brand.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Pronunciation may show slight variation in the vowel quality of the second syllable. The brand is equally well-known in both markets.
Connotations
Similar connotations of sporty, preppy fashion in both regions. May have a slightly stronger association with tennis in the UK due to the brand's founder, René Lacoste, being a tennis champion.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects as a brand name.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[to wear] + Lacoste[to own] + a Lacoste + [item]Lacoste + [is/are] + [adjective]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dressed head to toe in Lacoste”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to the company, its financial performance, marketing strategies, or brand equity.
Academic
Might appear in studies of branding, fashion history, or semiotics (analysis of the logo).
Everyday
Used when discussing clothing, fashion, shopping, or personal style.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields outside of specific discussions in fashion design or marketing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not standardly used as a verb)
American English
- (Not standardly used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- He has a very Lacoste look about him.
- The bag had a distinct Lacoste vibe.
American English
- That's a classic Lacoste style.
- Her outfit was Lacoste from head to toe.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like your Lacoste shirt.
- The Lacoste logo is a crocodile.
- He bought a new Lacoste polo for the summer.
- Is that a real Lacoste or a fake one?
- The brand Lacoste is synonymous with casual elegance and its iconic crocodile emblem.
- She accessorised her Lacoste dress with simple white trainers.
- Lacoste's marketing pivoted successfully from its tennis heritage to a broader lifestyle brand.
- The counterfeit market has significantly impacted luxury brands like Lacoste.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LACking POSTman (Lacoste) who delivers only polo shirts with a crocodile on them.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BRAND IS THE PERSON (metonymy): Using the founder's name to stand for the entire company and its products.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating it as 'крокодил' in all contexts. While the logo is a crocodile, the brand name 'Lacoste' is not translated.
- Do not use Cyrillic transliteration ('Лакост') in English text; it must remain 'Lacoste'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect capitalisation (e.g., 'lacoste').
- Using it as a plural countable noun without a classifier (e.g., 'He has three Lacostes' is informal; 'He has three Lacoste polos' is better).
- Mispronouncing it as /leɪˈkoʊst/.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary association of the word 'Lacoste' in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a French surname. The brand was founded by French tennis champion René Lacoste.
In British English, it's approximately /ləˈkɒst/. In American English, it's /ləˈkɔːst/ or /ləˈkɑːst/. The stress is on the second syllable.
No. While it's sometimes used colloquially as a metonym ('a Lacoste'), it specifically refers to items from that brand. Using it for any polo shirt is inaccurate and could be seen as genericisation of the trademark.
It is primarily a proper noun (the brand name). It can also function attributively as a noun modifier (e.g., 'Lacoste bag') or, informally, as an adjective describing a style associated with the brand.