French Conversation · Level 68
60 words
French word
échec
Pronunciation
IPA/eʃɛk/
Meaning
- masculine nounfailure
Example
C'est un échec.
It's a failure.
More examples
Il a surmonté cet échec.
He overcame this failure.
Core concept
An attempt misses its target and turns an expected success into a setback.
Common phrases
un échec
a failure
essuyer un échec
experience a failure
subir un échec
suffer a failure
Similar words
défaite: A loss in a contest or conflict against an opponent.
insuccès: Failure to achieve the expected result or outcome.
fiasco: A major failure of a plan or event with a disastrous result.
raté: An attempt or result that did not work out.
Definition in French
Manque de réussite d'une action, d'un projet ou d'une tentative, résultat contraire à l'objectif souvent ressenti comme un revers.
Word origin
French inherited échec from Old French eschec, a chess word related through Medieval Latin scaccus to Persian shāh, before extending it to failure.
Usage tips
- The final c in échec is pronounced, so the word ends with a clear k sound rather than a silent consonant.