French word

alcool

Pronunciation

IPA/alkɔl/

Meaning

  • masculine nounalcohol

Example

Tu veux boire un peu d'alcool ?

Do you want to drink a little alcohol?

Illustration for alcool (alcohol)

More examples

Il a arrêté l'alcool pour sa santé.

He gave up alcohol for his health.

Core concept

A drinkable liquid containing ethanol, shared at meals or gatherings and capable of causing intoxication.

Common phrases

  • boire de l'alcool

    drink alcohol

  • un verre d'alcool

    a glass of alcohol

Similar words

boisson: Any liquid intended for drinking.
vin: An alcoholic drink made by fermenting grapes.
bière: A fizzy alcoholic drink made from grains and often served chilled.

Definition in French

Liquide contenant de l'éthanol, généralement consommé comme boisson alcoolisée.

Word origin

The French word alcool comes from Arabic al-kuhl through Medieval Latin alcohol, which first referred to a finely powdered substance before extending to distilled substances and ethanol.

Usage tips

  • Alcool is usually uncountable after de, as in boire de l'alcool, while un alcool can denote a particular spirit or a chemical alcohol.

Other meanings

  • alcoholic drinknoun

Opposites

  • abstinenceabstinencenoun
  • sobriétésobrietynoun

Related words

  • alcooliquealcoholicnoun
  • alcooliséalcohol-containingadjective
  • alcoolémieblood alcohol concentrationnoun

Word lists with this word