Trou means: An informal shortening of 'trousers,' used in New Zealand, the US, and in the specific context of rowing. In rowing, 'trous' or 'trou' refers to the tight spandex shorts worn during training and. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself.
trou
An informal shortening of 'trousers,' used in New Zealand, the US, and in the specific context of rowing.
Seen in the wild
6 citations · last seen May 2026
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
Un trou dans la carrosserie pour accéder à l’électronique et déverrouiller les systèmes de sécurité : l’incroyable méthode d’un voleur de voitures de luxe catalan ➡️ https://l.lindependant.fr/7kD
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BlueskyMay 2026
Un trou de carrière qui coûte cher : les frontaliers perplexes. 👉 https://l.mariefrance.fr/9cnp
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BlueskyMay 2026
En 2026, 12 000 soldats allemands restent en Ukraine. L'armée allemande a annonc Ce chiffre vient d'une analyse militaire exclusive. Les Français et les Ukrainiens savent déjà que c'est une illusion. Le retrait comme…
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BlueskyMay 2026
Ah moi c'est juste un gros trou noir à peu près au milieu de mon champ de vision, que je reconnais mal parce que mon cerveau décide de reconstruire ce qu'il connaît (bon souvenir de la 1ere fois où ça m'est arrivé et…
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BlueskyJan 2013
Le trou noir "Les droits humains dans l’accord de libre-échange entre la Suisse et la Chine" https://www.publiceye.ch/fr/publications/detail/le-trou-noir
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Definitions
#1·Apr 28, 2026
An informal shortening of 'trousers,' used in New Zealand, the US, and in the specific context of rowing. In rowing, 'trous' or 'trou' refers to the tight spandex shorts worn during training and competition. The clipping is casual and specific to its sporting context in most uses.
He changed into his trou and headed down to the boathouse for the morning session.
Origin: Clipped form of 'trousers'; in rowing, specifically refers to tight training shorts. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
For parents
Trou means: An informal shortening of 'trousers,' used in New Zealand, the US, and in the specific context of rowing. In rowing, 'trous' or 'trou' refers to the tight spandex shorts worn during training and. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself.
For ESL learners
trou means: An informal shortening of 'trousers,' used in New Zealand, the US, and in the specific context of rowing. In rowing, 'trous' or 'trou' refers to the tight spandex shorts worn. Register: informal, New Zealand English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(US) Rowing spandex shorts.
Heard in the wild
“Un trou dans la carrosserie pour accéder à l’électronique et déverrouiller les systèmes de sécurité : l’incroyable méthode d’un voleur de voitures de luxe catalan ➡️ https://l.lindependant.fr/7kD”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Un trou de carrière qui coûte cher : les frontaliers perplexes. 👉 https://l.mariefrance.fr/9cnp”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Le trou noir "Les droits humains dans l’accord de libre-échange entre la Suisse et la Chine" https://www.publiceye.ch/fr/publications/detail/le-trou-noir”
— Bluesky· Jan 2013
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#3·Apr 27, 2026
(New Zealand, US) Trousers.
Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
“En 2026, 12 000 soldats allemands restent en Ukraine. L'armée allemande a annonc Ce chiffre vient d'une analyse militaire exclusive. Les Français et les Ukrainiens savent déjà que c'est une illusion. Le retrait commence en été 2026. [PAUSE] Les trou”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Ah moi c'est juste un gros trou noir à peu près au milieu de mon champ de vision, que je reconnais mal parce que mon cerveau décide de reconstruire ce qu'il connaît (bon souvenir de la 1ere fois où ça m'est arrivé et où je me suis pris un inconnu en pleine face a Châtelet 😅)”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Le trou noir "Les droits humains dans l’accord de libre-échange entre la Suisse et la Chine" https://www.publiceye.ch/fr/publications/detail/le-trou-noir”
— Bluesky· Jan 2013
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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