Understanding Nouns in French
Explore the concept of nouns in French language including its usage, types and examples.
sens
sense
The French word 'sens' has the same essential meaning as 'sense' in English, and it has multiple uses. It can be used to refer to one of the five human senses, similar to English. For instance, 'Je perds le sens du goût.' meaning 'I am losing sense of taste.'. Additionally, like its English counterpart, 'sens' could also refer to a direction or a meaning. Therefore, learners should take note of the context to understand the exact meaning of 'sens'.
Example sentences with sens →sentiment
feeling
The French word for 'feeling' is 'sentiment'. It can be used in various contexts just as it is used in English. For example, 'J'ai un bon sentiment à propos de cela' means 'I have a good feeling about this'. It is important to note that like in English, sentiment in French can refer to both physical sensations and emotional states.
Example sentences with sentiment →sera
will
In French, the future tense of the verb 'être' (to be) would be used to translate 'will'. Specifically, 'sera' is used when talking about he/she/it will be. However, please note that 'will' can also be translated differently in French depending on its use in the context.
Example sentences with sera →série
series
The French word 'série' is used similarly to the English word 'series'. It can refer to multiple items of the same type following one after another or to a show that has several episodes or seasons. For example, 'J'aime cette série télévisée' means 'I like this television series'.
Example sentences with série →service
service
In French, 'service' also means 'service.' However, it is used not just for denoting a helpful act but also for terms specific in certain contexts. For example, it's used in the context of restaurant (meal service), tennis (service), military (military service), and in the principle of providing service like a service charge.
Example sentences with service →servir
serve
The French word 'servir' represents the English word 'serve'. It is used in the same context as in English, for serving food or serving a purpose. It can be used in different tenses based on the context of the sentence.
Example sentences with servir →siège
seat
The French word for 'seat' is 'siège'. It is used in the same way as in English, to refer to something on which one can sit. It can be used for anything from a chair at a dinner table ('siège à la table') to a seat in a car ('siège de voiture'). It is also used metaphorically to refer to the place where something is located or based, such as a company headquarters ('siège social').
Example sentences with siège →signe
sign
The word 'signe' in French translation is 'sign' in English. It can be used in several contexts such as expressing a symbol, a signal, or an indication in the French language. For instance, a traffic sign is 'un signe de circulation' in French. As with most languages, the connotation of 'signe' may change depending on the context.
Example sentences with signe →simple
simple
In French, 'simple' is used the same way it is used in English, to describe something that is not complicated or difficult to understand or do. It can be used to describe objects, ideas, tasks and more. Just like in English, it can also be used to describe a person who is not intelligent or sophisticated.
Example sentences with simple →site
site
In French, 'site' has a similar meaning as in English. It mainly refers to a location or place, and can be used for physical places or digital spaces like websites. So just like English, 'site' in French can mean a website or a physical location, depending on the context it is used in.
Example sentences with site →situation
situation
In French, 'situation' is used much like the English 'situation'. It could denote a set of circumstances in which one finds oneself, or the state of affairs. For instance, 'La situation est grave' means 'The situation is serious'. The plural is 'situations' and it could also refer to a location or position, though this is less commonly used.
Example sentences with situation →société
society
The French term for 'society' is 'société'. This is utilized in the same context as it is in English, used to describe a group of individuals involved in persistent community, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.
Example sentences with société →soeur
sister
The word 'soeur' corresponds to the English word 'sister'. In French, it is used in the context of family connections. Just like in English, it refers to a female sibling. It is also used in religious context to refer to a nun.
Example sentences with soeur →soin
care
The French word for 'care' is 'soin'. Similar to English, 'soin' can be used in various contexts. It can refer to the action of taking care of someone or something, as in 'prendre soin de'. It can also mean the attention or concern one shows towards something or someone. Lastly, in a medical context it can refer to treatment or therapy. It is a noun, and its pronunciation is similar to the English word 'swan'.
Example sentences with soin →sol
ground
The French word for 'ground' is 'sol'. It is used in French just like in English, to refer to the surface of the Earth or floor. It can appear in various contexts, including geographical exploration, gardening, and even in expressions like 'avoir les pieds sur le sol' (to have one's feet on the ground), signifying to be realistic or sensible.
Example sentences with sol →soleil
sun
The word 'soleil' is used in French to represent the star at the center of the Solar System, similar to 'sun' in English. It is a masculine noun, usually used in contexts of weather, celestial bodies, and light source. Example sentence: 'Le soleil brille' translates to 'The sun is shining'.
Example sentences with soleil →sombre
dark
The French word 'sombre' translates to 'dark' in English. It is often used in reference to lack of light or color, similar to its English counterpart. It can also be used symbolically to represent sadness or seriousness. Like English, the context determines whether 'sombre' is referring to literal darkness or a metaphorical state.
Example sentences with sombre →son
sound
The French word for 'sound' is 'son'. It is used in the same way as it is in English, to refer to any noise, musical or otherwise, that you hear. For example, 'J'aime le son de la pluie' means 'I like the sound of the rain'. However, be careful of the masculine or feminine form as it can change the meaning. 'Son' also can be a possessive adjective translates into 'his/her'.
Example sentences with son →souhait
wish
The word 'souhait' is used in French in similar ways as 'wish' is used in English. It can denote a hope or desire for something to happen or be the case. 'Souhait' can be used in both formal and informal contexts. An example of its usage in sentence: 'Je souhaite visiter la France un jour' means 'I wish to visit France one day'.
Example sentences with souhait →source
source
In French, 'source' is also used as in English. It is used to refer to the origin or beginning of something, such as the source of a river, or the source of information. It is also used metaphorically to refer to a principle or force that provides inspiration or support.
Example sentences with source →sous-titres
subtitles
In French, 'sous-titres' refers to the words superimposed at the bottom of the screen in films or television broadcasts that translate or transcribe dialogue. It is used similarly to how 'subtitles' are used in English. Example of usage in a sentence: 'Les sous-titres sont disponibles en plusieurs langues.' which means 'The subtitles are available in several languages.'
Example sentences with sous-titres →soutien
support
The French word 'soutien' is used in much the same way as the English word 'support'. It can refer to the act of supporting a cause or person, or a structure which holds up another. It's also used in a more metaphorical sense, like in English, to denote psychological or emotional support.
Example sentences with soutien →spécial
special
The French word 'spécial' is an adjective used to denote a thing, person, event or moment that distinguishes from others because it has some unusual characteristics or it has a significant importance. It can be used to describe anything from food to occasions.
Example sentences with spécial →spécifique
specific
The French word 'spécifique' is used similarly to the English word 'specific'. It can be used to refer to a particular, exact or precise thing or a person among others. It's often used in sentences where you want to highlight that one particular thing is true or relevant about a thing or person.
Example sentences with spécifique →sport
sport
In French, 'sport' is used basically the same as in English, referring to various forms of competitive physical activities. It may refer to individual activities, like tennis or golf, or team activities like football or rugby. Often, it is used in general and abstract contexts, such as when talking about the importance of sport in society, but it may also refer to specific sports when the context makes it clear which one is discussed.
Example sentences with sport →stratégie
strategy
The French word 'stratégie' is used much in the same way as the English word 'strategy'. It can refer to a plan of action designed to achieve a specific goal, often used in contexts of business, military, or games. For example, one could say 'J'ai une stratégie pour gagner le jeu' which translates to 'I have a strategy to win the game'.
Example sentences with stratégie →succès
success
The French word for success is 'succès'. It is used similarly to the English term, and can refer to the positive outcome of an endeavor or the achievement of a particular goal or objective. It can be used in a variety of contexts, whether personal, professional, or academic.
Example sentences with succès →sujet
subject
The French equivalent for the English word 'subject' is 'sujet'. This word is used in similar contexts as in English, for example in grammar to denote the topic of a sentence, or to refer to a area of study or interest. Additionally, 'sujet' can also be used to refer to a person in certain contexts, specifically when discussing subjects of a ruler or nation.
Example sentences with sujet →système
system
The French word 'système' is used to denote a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network. It is used very similarly to how 'system' is used in English, suggesting a comprehensive and coordinated whole. Therefore, it fits in a variety of contexts like computer systems ('système informatique'), economic system ('système économique') or solar system ('système solaire').
Example sentences with système →table
table
The word 'table' in French is also 'table', pronounced slightly differently. It is used in the same context as in English, referring to a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface on which objects may be placed. It's used in everyday language and is a commonly known noun.
Example sentences with table →