French Conversation · Level 24
90 words
French word
état
Pronunciation
IPA/eta/
Meaning
- masculine nounstate
Example
Il est en état de choc.
He is in a state of shock.
More examples
La ville est en état d'urgence.
The city is in a state of emergency.
Core concept
A snapshot of how a person, thing, or organized society stands at a given time.
Common phrases
état d'urgence
state of emergency
être dans un état
be in a terrible state
Similar words
santé: A person's physical or mental health.
forme: The degree to which a person or thing is functioning well.
situation: The circumstances or situation in which someone or something is placed.
condition: The external conditions or environment affecting someone or something.
Definition in French
état signifie la condition ou la situation d'une chose ou d'une personne à un instant donné; on l'emploie aussi pour parler d'une entité politique organisée, l'État.
Word origin
État comes through Old French estat from Latin status, meaning a standing or established condition; its political sense developed from this idea of standing or status.
Usage tips
- In en état de choc, état describes a temporary condition rather than a permanent personal quality.
Other meanings
- situationnoun