French word

banc

Pronunciation

IPA/bɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbench

Example

Nous nous sommes assis sur le banc du parc.

We sat on the park bench.

Illustration for banc (bench)

More examples

Le banc public est cassé.

The public bench is broken.

Core concept

A sturdy, narrow seat with room for several people to sit side by side.

Common phrases

  • sur le banc

    on the bench

  • banc du parc

    park bench

Similar words

siège: A general term for something or somewhere designed for a person to sit.
chaise: A standalone seat for one person with a backrest.
banquette: A long indoor seat for several people, often with a backrest or cushions.

Definition in French

Siège long et étroit destiné à plusieurs personnes, souvent placé dans les parcs ou les lieux publics.

Word origin

French banc comes through Old French from Frankish bank, a Germanic word for a board or platform used as a seat.

Usage tips

  • Banc is masculine, so the usual form is un banc, and it differs from banque, meaning a bank or financial institution.

Other meanings

  • seatnoun

Word lists with this word