French word

ciné

Pronunciation

IPA/sine/

Meaning

  • masculine nounthe movies

Example

On va au ciné ce soir.

We're going to the movies tonight.

Illustration for ciné (the movies)

More examples

J'ai acheté des places pour le ciné de samedi.

I bought tickets for Saturday's movie at the theater.

Core concept

A film outing in a dark cinema, with the screen as the shared focus.

Common phrases

  • aller au ciné

    go to the movie theater

  • séance au ciné

    movie showing at the theater

  • sortir au ciné

    go to the movies

Similar words

cinéma: A building with screens and seats for showing films.
film: A visual work shown on a screen.
télévision: A medium or device for watching broadcast programs at home.

Definition in French

Abréviation familière de cinéma, courante dans la langue parlée pour parler d'une séance, d'une sortie ou du bâtiment où l'on projette des films.

Word origin

Ciné is a familiar shortening of cinéma, itself shortened from cinématographe, a Greek-based term built from kínēma, 'movement', and graphein, 'to write'.

Usage tips

  • Although ciné is masculine, the usual phrase is au ciné, with au contracting à le.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word