French word

affaire

Pronunciation

IPA/afɛʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounerrand

Example

J'ai une affaire à régler.

I have an errand to take care of.

Illustration for affaire (errand)

More examples

Je dois régler une affaire personnelle cet après-midi.

I have to take care of a personal matter this afternoon.

Core concept

A real-life matter with a practical next step, from a personal errand to a professional case.

Common phrases

  • une affaire à régler

    a matter to take care of

  • une affaire personnelle

    a personal matter

Similar words

chose: An unspecified thing or matter, often discussed in general terms.
truc: An informal word for an unnamed thing or matter.
tâche: A piece of work or task that needs to be done.
course: A short trip for shopping or taking care of an errand.

Definition in French

Activité, tâche ou question concrète à traiter dans la vie quotidienne ou dans un dossier administratif ou professionnel.

Word origin

Old French afaire turned the expression à faire, 'to do', into a noun for a matter requiring action.

Usage tips

  • Une bonne affaire often means a bargain or good deal, so affaire also appears frequently in shopping and business contexts.

Other meanings

  • incidentnoun
  • businessnoun
  • casenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word