Understanding Nouns in French
Explore the concept of nouns in French language including its usage, types and examples.
passer
pass
The French word 'passer' is primarily used in the same way as the English word 'pass'. It can refer to the act of passing a physical object, passing by or through a location, or passing a point in time. Please note that the use of 'passer' can also vary depending on the context of the sentence or phrase.
Example sentences with passer →patient
patient
The word 'patient' translates to 'patient' in French. It's used similarly to the English language, referring to a person who is under medical care or treatment. Additionally, it can also be used to describe someone showing self-control, someone who is calm, capable of accepting or tolerating delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. However, the context of its usage will determine its meaning.
Example sentences with patient →pays
country
The French word for 'country' is 'pays'. It is used in the same manner as in English, to describe a geographic area which is distinct in culture, geography, or politics. For example, 'France est mon pays préféré' translates to 'France is my favorite country.'
Example sentences with pays →pendant
while
The French word for 'while' is 'pendant'. It is used in a similar way to the English 'while', indicating something that is happening at the same time as another action. It can also mean 'during' or 'for' when referring to a span of time. Examples include 'Je lis pendant que tu dors' which translates to 'I read while you sleep' and 'J'ai travaillé pendant trois heures' which means 'I worked for three hours'.
Example sentences with pendant →pensée
thought
The French translation for 'thought' is 'pensée'. It is a feminine noun in French. It may refer to the act of thinking, a specific idea or consideration, or the mind’s capacity for intellectual activity in general. Depending on context, it might also mean opinion or judgment. It is used much like the English 'thought', as in the expression 'Je t'aime plus que tu ne le penses' which means 'I love you more than you think'.
Example sentences with pensée →penser
think
The French word 'penser' is used in very similar contexts to the English word 'think'. It can be used to express personal thoughts or opinions, ponder or consider something, or it can be used to imply intention to perform a particular action. Like its English counterpart, 'penser' can be coupled with many prepositions to articulate varying shades of nuances.
Example sentences with penser →père
father
The French word for father is 'père'. It is commonly used in the same way as in English, to refer to one's biological paternal figure. It can also be used in some contexts to refer to a person who has played a significant male role in one's life. Additionally, 'père' can be used colloquially, much like the English 'old man', to refer to one's father.
Example sentences with père →performance
performance
In French, 'performance' retains the same spelling but is pronounced differently, with a French accent. It is often utilized in contexts such as arts, sports, or any other field to refer to the act of performing or accomplishing something. Just like in English, it can be used to gauge the degree of accomplishment of a task or achievement of objectives, often attaching to it a value of quality or effectiveness based on the observable outcomes.
Example sentences with performance →période
period
The French word for 'period' is 'période'. It's used similarly to English, referring to a span of time or end of a sentence. For example, in sentences like 'J'étudie pendant cette période' (I am studying during this period), or 'C'est la fin de la période' (It's the end of the period). It's not used to refer to menstrual cycles.
Example sentences with période →personnage
character
The French word 'personnage' translates to 'character' in English. It is used in the same contexts as the English word, both in reference to fiction (characters in a book or movie) and as a way to describe someone's personality or qualities. However, it is not used to refer to a written symbol, like English does with 'character'.
Example sentences with personnage →personne
person
'Personne' translates to 'person' in English. It is a French noun used to refer to an individual or human being. This word is quite versatile and is used much the same way as in English. It can represent a man, a woman, a child, or an elderly person. It can also refer to a person in a general sense or specifically, as in 'C'est une bonne personne' which means 'He/She is a good person'.
Example sentences with personne →personnel
personal
The word 'personnel' in French is used the same way as 'personal' in English. It is used to describe something belonging to or affecting a particular person rather than anyone else, or relating to their private life. It can be used in various contexts, such as personal belongings, personal feelings, personal life, etc. An example in a sentence could be 'C'est mon choix personnel', which translates to 'It's my personal choice'.
Example sentences with personnel →perte
loss
The French word 'perte' translates to 'loss' in English. It is often used in contexts such as finance, death, or losing an object. Much like in English, 'perte' can be used in a broad range of situations, from the loss of physical objects to abstract concepts such as the loss of time.
Example sentences with perte →photo
photo
The word 'photo' in French is also 'photo', pronounced slightly differently. It is a common term used in everyday conversation, and just like its English counterpart, it is used to refer to a picture taken by a camera. You can use it in phrases like 'prendre une photo' which means 'take a photo'.
Example sentences with photo →pièce
piece
The French word 'pièce' is primarily used to denote an individual item or a single unit of something, usually within a larger set or group. It can be used in a variety of contexts like in a game of chess where each individual unit is referred to as a 'pièce', or in reference to a 'pièce' of furniture. Similar to English, it can be used metaphorically, for example, in expressions like 'pièce de résistance' which refers to the most remarkable feature or highlight of something.
Example sentences with pièce →pied
foot
The French word for 'foot' is 'pied'. It is used exactly as it is in English, referring to the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks. In phrases and idioms, however, the translations may vary. For instance, 'on foot' translates as 'à pied' in French.
Example sentences with pied →plan
plan
The French word 'plan' is used in the same context as it is in English. It could indicate a proposal for doing or achieving something, a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something, a scheme for making, doing, or arranging something. It can also be a map or diagram drawn to scale, showing the arrangement, or workings of something.
Example sentences with plan →plante
plant
The word 'plante' in French is used just like 'plant' in English. It can refer to the act of placing a seed or plant in the ground to grow or the actual living organism that we know as a plant. The context of the sentence often tells you which meaning is intended.
Example sentences with plante →plomb
lead
The French word for lead is 'plomb'. It is used in French in exactly the same contexts as in English, typically to refer to a heavy, soft, malleable, grayish-blue metallic element that is resistant to corrosion. The French word 'plomb' can also refer to the act of guidance or direction which is 'conduire' in French. Therefore, be careful with the context the word is being used.
Example sentences with plomb →point
point
In French, 'point' is an extremely versatile word with many uses. Similar to English, it primarily refers to a specific location or place (e.g., 'Arrêtez-vous à ce point' or 'Stop at this point'). Also, it is used in mathematics for indicating a dot (e.g., 'Il y a un point sur la ligne' or 'There is a point on the line'). Moreover, like English, it is used in discussions as a noun to represent an argument or idea (e.g., 'C'est un bon point' or 'That's a good point').
Example sentences with point →poisson
fish
The word 'poisson' in French is used similarly to the English 'fish'. You can use it to refer to the animals that live in water, the act of fishing, and also for the dish cooked with fish as an ingredient.
Example sentences with poisson →police
police
In French, the word 'police' has similar meaning as it does in English. It is used to refer to the civil force of a national or local government, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order. It holds the same spelling, pronunciation and context in both languages, making it easier to remember. An example of its use in a sentence would be - 'Elle travaille pour la police', which translates to 'She works for the police'.
Example sentences with police →pomme
apple
The word 'pomme' in French is used exactly how 'apple' is used in English. It refers to the sweet, round fruit from an apple tree, often consumed raw or used in cooking. It's a common basis for French pastries like 'tarte aux pommes' (apple tart).
Example sentences with pomme →population
population
The French word for 'population' is also 'population'. It is used in the same context as it is in English, referring to the people who live in a specific area such as a country, city, or town. 'Population' can also be used to refer to a group of people or animals of a specific kind. For example, 'La population française' translates to 'The French population'.
Example sentences with population →porte
door
The French word for 'door' is 'porte'. It is a feminine noun in French, and it is used just as in English, to refer to the barrier or entrance to a room or building. You can use it in phrases like 'ouvrir la porte' (open the door), or 'ferme la porte' (close the door).
Example sentences with porte →porter
wear
The French word 'porter' is used to mean 'wear'. Just like in English, it is used to reference the act of having something on your body as a covering, adornment, or protection. For example, if one is wearing a jacket in French, you would say 'il/elle porte une veste'. Remember, the verb 'porter' needs to be conjugated according to the subject it is associated with.
Example sentences with porter →possible
possible
In French, 'possible' is translated to 'possible.' The usage is exactly the same as in English, it is used to describe the things or scenarios that can be done or achieved, it can also refer to something that may happen or be true. Like in English, it is a very versatile word used in many contexts.
Example sentences with possible →poste
post
The French word 'poste' is used similar to the English 'post'. It is commonly used to refer to a job or position, as well as in reference to mailing or shipping items, just like in English. Also, it can be used to refer to a post or station in a technical or military context.
Example sentences with poste →poulet
chicken
The French word 'poulet' translates to 'chicken' in English. It is commonly used to refer to the animal as well as the meat. For instance, in a restaurant, you might order 'poulet' from the menu.
Example sentences with poulet →préoccupation
concern
The French translation for 'concern' is 'préoccupation'. It is used in much the same way as it is in English, to indicate worry or interest in something or someone. It can be used in the context of personal worries (e.g. 'ma plus grande préoccupation est ma santé' which means 'my biggest concern is my health') or in the context of expressing interest or involvement in a matter (e.g. 'c'est une préoccupation pour moi' which means 'it's a concern to me').
Example sentences with préoccupation →