French word

cinéma

Pronunciation

IPA/sinema/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmovie theater

Example

Je vais au cinéma ce soir.

I'm going to the movie theater tonight.

Illustration for cinéma (movie theater)

More examples

Il vaut mieux acheter son billet au cinéma à l'avance.

It is better to buy your ticket at the cinema in advance.

Core concept

A dark public room where moving images fill a large screen for a shared audience.

Common phrases

  • aller au cinéma

    go to the cinema

  • regarder un film au cinéma

    watch a film at the cinema

  • acheter un billet au cinéma

    buy a ticket at the cinema

Similar words

film: A story or work made from moving images and sound.
salle de cinéma: A room or facility with seats and a screen for showing films.
théâtre: A building where audiences watch actors perform on a stage.
ciné: A casual term for a movie theater used in conversation.

Definition in French

Endroit où l'on va pour regarder des films projetés sur grand écran, en présence d'un public.

Word origin

Cinéma is shortened from cinématographe, a French formation using Greek kinēma, 'movement', and graphein, 'to write'.

Usage tips

  • The usual phrase is aller au cinéma, with au combining à and the masculine article le.

Other meanings

  • movienoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word