French Conversation · Level 80
60 words
French word
cendre
Pronunciation
IPA/sɑ̃dʁ/
Meaning
- feminine nounash
Example
Il y a de la cendre sur la table.
There is ash on the table.
More examples
La voiture était recouverte de cendre après l'incendie.
The car was covered in ash after the fire.
Core concept
Fine, weightless gray residue settling on a surface after burning.
Common phrases
tas de cendre
heap of ash
recouvert de cendre
covered in ash
Similar words
poussière: Very fine particles that gather on floors and shelves.
suie: Black particles from incomplete burning that cling to surfaces.
fumée: A visible haze of gas and fine particles from burning material.
Definition in French
Poudre fine et légère, généralement grise, qui reste après la combustion d'une matière.
Word origin
The French noun cendre developed from Old French cendre, ultimately descended from Latin cinis and its form cineris.
Usage tips
- Les cendres commonly refers to human cremation remains or ashes, while la cendre often names ash as a substance.