chalet

American  

[sha-ley, shal-ey, shah-le] / ʃæˈleɪ, ˈʃæl eɪ, ʃɑˈlɛ /

noun

plural

chalets

1. a herdsman's hut in the Swiss Alps.

2. a kind of farmhouse, low and with wide eaves, common in Alpine regions.

3. any cottage, house, ski lodge, etc., built in this style.

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chalet British  

/ ˈʃæleɪ, ʃalɛ /

noun

1. a type of wooden house of Swiss origin, typically low, with wide projecting eaves

2. a similar house used esp as a ski lodge, garden house, etc

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Etymology

Origin of chalet

1810–20; < French, SwissF, equivalent to *chale shelter (cognate with Old Provençal cala cove ¹ ) + -et -et

Example Sentences

The iconic French restaurant originally opened downtown in 1927 and relocated to its current chalet on Sunset Boulevard in 1962.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

The owner of multiple luxury properties in Manhattan, she took her friends and lovers on extravagant romps on her private plane and on chartered boats, or to her chalet in Vail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

"Once we got to the chalet, aside from the elderly housekeeper, it was myself and Ali alone for three days. It was strange," says Amy.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2025

“It feels like a chalet, which we didn’t love,” says Xavier.

From New York Times • Mar. 20, 2024

Going back to Bobby’s chalet, the two analyzed some games, and Thorbergsson continued his volley of subtle arguments for why Bobby should play exclusively in Iceland.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• cabin
• hut