French word

accueil

Pronunciation

IPA/akœj/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwelcome

Example

Merci pour l'accueil.

Thank you for the welcome.

Illustration for accueil (welcome)

More examples

Demandez à l'accueil où se trouve la salle.

Ask at the reception desk where the room is.

Core concept

A visible front-desk service turns arrival into a guided welcome, handling orientation and initial information.

Common phrases

  • à l'accueil

    at the reception desk

  • service d'accueil

    reception service

  • accueil du public

    public reception

Similar words

réception: A department or counter handling visitors, directions, and telephone calls.
information: A help desk or service providing answers to users' questions.
guichet: A counter for handling payments, documents, and other face-to-face procedures.

Definition in French

Lieu ou service chargé d'accueillir et d'orienter les personnes lors de leur arrivée.

Word origin

French accueil developed from Old French forms related to accueillir, whose Latin source combines ad- with colligere, 'gather', fitting the idea of receiving people together.

Usage tips

  • In public buildings, à l'accueil commonly means 'at reception', while accueil can name the reception service itself.

Other meanings

  • receptionnoun
  • hospitalitynoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word