French word

époque

Pronunciation

IPA/epɔk/

Meaning

  • feminine nounperiod

Example

Nous vivons à une époque difficile.

We live in a difficult period.

Illustration for époque (period)

More examples

À l'époque où il est né, la ville était très différente.

At the time when he was born, the city was very different.

Core concept

A chapter of history with its own social and cultural character.

Common phrases

  • à l'époque où

    at the time when

  • époque révolue

    bygone era

  • fin d'époque

    end of an era

Similar words

période: A continuous period of time marked by an event or situation.
moment: A brief point in time or short stretch of time.
siècle: A period lasting one hundred years.

Definition in French

Période de temps caractérisée par des événements, des usages ou un contexte commun.

Word origin

The French noun comes from Old French epoche and ultimately from Greek epokhē through Latin epocha.

Usage tips

  • In à l'époque, époque usually refers to a past period or situation, while à l'époque de introduces a person or historical period.

Other meanings

  • eranoun

Word lists with this word