porte

Everyday

1. (French) «Porte» is the French word for door or gate; it sounds like «port» to an English ear and is not an English word. tree →
2. (French) «Porte» is also a form of the French verb «porter», meaning «carries» or «wears», as in «il porte un chapeau» (he wears a hat). tree →
3. (history) «The Porte» or «the Sublime Porte» was the name used in Europe for the government of the Ottoman Empire. tree →

In the lessons

In French lessons, «porte» comes up in house words: «la porte» (the door), «ferme la porte» (close the door). In Paris, gates of the old city walls are named «Porte de ...». In history lessons on the Ottoman Empire, «the Porte» means its government. Related English words come from the same root: portal, porter, portable.

Examples

• In French, «ferme la porte» means «close the door». tree →
• Our Métro stop was called «Porte de Clichy». tree →
• «Elle porte une robe rouge» means «she is wearing a red dress». tree →
• The English word «portal» is related to «porte». tree →
• Ambassadors sent letters to the Sublime Porte in Istanbul. tree →
• In French class we labelled the door «la porte». tree →

Note

Not an English word. In French it is feminine: «la porte». Pronounced «port», like English «port» (harbour), but the meaning is different. Do not confuse with «port» (a harbour, or a sweet wine).