French Conversation · Level 11
89 words
French word
but
Pronunciation
IPA/byt/
Meaning
- masculine nounpurpose
Example
Le but de ce projet est d'aider les jeunes.
The purpose of this project is to help young people.
More examples
Pour réussir, il faut définir un but réaliste.
To succeed, you need to set a realistic goal.
Core concept
A clearly marked endpoint that a plan, effort, or contest is directed toward.
Common phrases
définir un but
set a goal
atteindre son but
achieve one's goal
avoir un but
have a goal
Similar words
objectif: A specific goal that someone aims to achieve.
raison: The reason or cause behind an event or action.
Definition in French
L'objectif ou la finalité d'une action ou d'un projet, ce que l'on cherche à obtenir.
Word origin
French but continues Old French but, recorded with the sense of a goal or target, while its deeper etymology remains uncertain.
Usage tips
- The construction avoir pour but de takes an infinitive, with de becoming d' before a vowel.
Other meanings
- targetnoun
- aimnoun
- goalnoun