French word

aspiration

Pronunciation

IPA/aspiʁasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounambition

Example

Son aspiration est de devenir médecin.

His ambition is to become a doctor.

Illustration for aspiration (ambition)

More examples

Ses aspirations professionnelles la poussent à suivre une formation.

Her professional aspirations push her to undergo training.

Core concept

A strong inner pull toward a chosen future.

Common phrases

  • avoir des aspirations

    have aspirations

  • une aspiration à

    an aspiration to ___

  • une aspiration professionnelle

    a professional aspiration

Similar words

envie: A familiar urge to do something in everyday life.
désir: A fervent wish for something, with strong hope of attaining it.
rêve: An imagined wish that has not yet become reality.
ambition: A strong desire to reach important goals and succeed over time.

Definition in French

Désir profond ou ambition qui pousse une personne vers un objectif.

Word origin

French aspiration comes from Latin aspiratio, from aspirare, meaning to breathe or blow toward, which developed into the idea of striving toward a goal.

Usage tips

  • Aspiration is more formal than everyday envie, and it commonly appears in aspiration à followed by a noun or infinitive.

Other meanings

  • longingnoun
  • suctionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word