Tampon - French Word Defined

In French, the word tampon can have several different meanings. It can mean stopper, plug, wad, swab, tampon (menstrual product), stamp, or buffer.

Je vais boucher cette voie d'eau avec un tampon de bois - I'm going to plug this leak with a wooden stopper

Il a besoin d'un tampon pour vernir la table - He needs a pad to varnish the table.

Je n'aime pas les tampons ; je préfère les serviettes hygiéniques - I don't like tampons; I prefer sanitary napkins.

Elle sert de tampon entre les gens qui disputent - She serves as a buffer between people who are disputing.

(invariable adj) - buffer

C'est une zone tampon - It's a buffer zone

Note that tampon is a semi-false cognate in English, in which it has only one meaning.