French word

ceci

Pronunciation

IPA/səsi/

Meaning

  • pronounthis

Example

Regarde ceci.

Look at this.

Illustration for ceci (this)

More examples

Prenez ceci, s'il vous plaît.

Please take this.

Core concept

A label pointing to this item beside the speaker or to the statement about to follow.

Common phrases

  • prenez ceci

    take this

  • lisez ceci

    read this

Similar words

ça: A colloquial pronoun for something vaguely referred to or mentioned earlier.
cela: A formal or written pronoun for something mentioned earlier or somewhat distant.
ce: A demonstrative pronoun used to introduce something about to be stated or identified.
celui-ci: A demonstrative pronoun for a specific person or object nearby.

Definition in French

S'utilise pour désigner quelque chose de proche du locuteur ou pour introduire ce qui va être présenté.

Word origin

Ceci is formed from French ce and the locative demonstrative element ci, whose history is linked with Latin ecce and hic.

Usage tips

  • Ceci is a pronoun, so it can stand alone as in Regarde ceci, whereas ce normally appears before a noun.

Opposites

Word lists with this word