French word

bactérien

Pronunciation

IPA/bakteʁjɛ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivebacterial

Example

Le médecin a dit que c'est une infection bactérienne.

The doctor said it was a bacterial infection.

Illustration for bactérien (bacterial)

More examples

On a trouvé une contamination bactérienne dans l'eau.

Bacterial contamination was found in the water.

Core concept

A condition or change connected with bacteria, especially an infection caused by them.

Common phrases

  • infection bactérienne

    bacterial infection

  • contamination bactérienne

    bacterial contamination

Similar words

infectieux: Capable of spreading from one person to another.
infecté: Affected by bacteria that have entered the body and caused illness.
contaminé: Made unsafe by bacteria or other harmful contamination on an object or in food.

Definition in French

Qui provient de bactéries ou qui se rapporte à elles.

Word origin

The adjective bactérien was formed from French bactérie with -ien; bactérie comes through scientific Latin bacterium from Greek bakterion, meaning 'small rod'.

Usage tips

  • Bactérien agrees with a masculine singular noun, while bactérienne is feminine singular and bactériens or bactériennes are plural forms.

Opposites

  • viraleviraladjective

Related words

  • bactéricidebactericidaladjective

Word lists with this word