French word

évêque

Pronunciation

IPA/evɛk/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbishop

Example

Nous avons rencontré l'évêque après la messe.

We met the bishop after Mass.

Illustration for évêque (bishop)

More examples

On a vu l'évêque au marché.

We saw the bishop at the market.

Core concept

The chief religious guide responsible for a diocese and the clergy serving it.

Similar words

prêtre: A Christian priest who leads services, delivers sermons, and performs religious rites.
curé: A local parish priest who celebrates regular Mass and counsels members of the community.
pasteur: A Protestant pastor who leads services, preaches sermons, and cares for the congregation.
cardinal: A senior cleric just below the pope who helps govern the Church and choose a new pope.

Definition in French

Responsable religieux qui dirige un diocèse, supervise les prêtres et célèbre certains sacrements au service de la communauté chrétienne.

Word origin

Greek episkopos, meaning 'overseer', developed into Latin episcopus, then Old French evesque, and finally French évêque.

Usage tips

  • The initial é is pronounced as a close vowel, while the final que is pronounced /k/, giving évêque two syllables.

Opposites

  • laïclaypersonnoun

Word lists with this word