French Conversation · Level 20
90 words
French word
centre
Pronunciation
IPA/sɑ̃tʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nouncenter
Example
Le centre de la ville est animé.
The city center is lively.
More examples
Il y a un centre commercial près de chez moi.
There is a shopping center near my home.
Core concept
A central point that organizes a place or concentrates interest and activity around it.
Common phrases
centre commercial
shopping center
centre sportif
sports center
centre historique
historic center
Similar words
cœur: The most important and central part of something.
foyer: A home or place around which activity or life is centered.
pôle: A focal hub for a particular field or activity.
Definition in French
Point focal d'attention, d'intérêt ou d'activité dans un système, désignant tantôt un centre géographique, tantôt un noyau conceptuel ou social.
Word origin
The French noun centre descends from Latin centrum, borrowed from Greek kentron for a sharp point, and later acquired its geographical and figurative senses.
Usage tips
- In être au centre de, the phrase means being the focus of an event or issue, not merely being located in the middle of a place.
Other meanings
- headquartersnoun
Opposites
- périphérieperipherynoun