French word

charité

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃaʁite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounalms

Example

Il a fait la charité au mendiant.

He gave alms to the beggar.

Illustration for charité (alms)

More examples

Elle donne régulièrement à la charité du quartier.

She regularly donates to the neighborhood charity.

Core concept

An open hand places food or money within reach of someone in need, turning compassion into a visible act.

Common phrases

  • faire la charité

    give to charity

  • œuvre de charité

    charitable work

  • don de charité

    charitable donation

Similar words

don: Financial or material support given to a person or group.
aumône: A charitable gift of money or food to someone poor.
solidarité: Shared support among people with a common situation or goal.

Definition in French

Acte concret de donner aux pauvres ou aux personnes en difficulté, motivé par la compassion ou la solidarité.

Word origin

French charité comes through Old French from Latin caritas, meaning esteem or love, and Christian usage linked that love with aid for the poor.

Usage tips

  • Charité is feminine and commonly appears as la charité or faire la charité à quelqu'un; organized giving is often faire un don.

Other meanings

  • charitynoun
  • benevolencenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • charitablecharitableadjective
  • charitablementcharitablyadverb

Word lists with this word