French word

attitude

Pronunciation

IPA/atityd/

Meaning

  • feminine nounattitude

Example

Son attitude m'a surpris.

His attitude surprised me.

Illustration for attitude (attitude)

More examples

Face aux clients, elle a montré une attitude professionnelle.

When facing clients, she showed a professional attitude.

Core concept

A person's outward bearing as the observable expression of a mental stance.

Common phrases

  • montrer une attitude positive

    show a positive attitude

  • changer d'attitude

    change one's attitude

  • adopter une attitude professionnelle

    adopt a professional attitude

Similar words

comportement: Actions and behavior that can be directly observed.
manière: The way someone moves, speaks, or carries out an activity.
posture: The physical position or arrangement of the body.
ton: The character or mood expressed by someone's voice and speech.

Definition in French

Disposition intérieure manifestée dans le comportement ou l'expression, souvent perçue et jugée par autrui.

Word origin

The word derives from Italian attitudine and ultimately Latin aptitudo, whose sense of suitability developed into the ideas of posture and disposition.

Usage tips

  • French commonly uses attitude with prendre or adopter, as in prendre une attitude prudente or adopter une attitude hostile.

Other meanings

  • posturenoun
  • mindsetnoun
  • behaviornoun

Word lists with this word