French Conversation · Level 55
73 words
French word
ancien
Pronunciation
IPA/ɑ̃sjɛ̃/
Meaning
- adjectiveformer
Example
C'est un ancien collègue.
He is a former colleague.
More examples
Mon ancien camarade de classe est maintenant dans une autre école.
My former classmate is now at another school.
Mon ancien professeur m'a recommandé ce livre.
My former teacher recommended this book to me.
Core concept
A person or thing seen as belonging to a former role or group rather than the present one.
Common phrases
ancien collègue
former colleague
ancien ami
former friend
Similar words
vieux: Describing a person who is old or advanced in years.
précédent: Existing or taking place before a later item or event.
passé: Associated with a bygone period or a completed state.
Definition in French
Décrit quelqu'un ou quelque chose qui a exercé un rôle ou appartenu à un groupe dans le passé mais qui n'occupe plus ce rôle aujourd'hui.
Word origin
French ancien comes through Old French from Vulgar Latin *antianus, formed from Latin ante meaning 'before'.
Usage tips
- Before a noun, ancien commonly means 'former', as in ancien collègue, while after a noun it can mean 'old' or 'ancient'.