French word

cirque

Pronunciation

IPA/siʁk/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncircus

Example

Le cirque arrive en ville demain.

The circus is coming to town tomorrow.

Illustration for cirque (circus)

More examples

Ne fais pas de cirque devant les invités.

Don't make a fuss in front of the guests.

Core concept

Under a bright tent, a succession of performers turns a circular arena into a lively public spectacle.

Common phrases

  • billet pour le cirque

    ticket for the circus

  • spectacle de cirque

    circus show

Similar words

spectacle: A show or performance presented for an audience.
théâtre: A play performed by actors on a stage, or the place where it is performed.
fête: A celebration or event where people gather for enjoyment.
festival: An event featuring several performances or activities focused on a theme such as music or film.

Definition in French

Spectacle itinérant de divertissement composé de numéros variés (acrobaties, clowns, parfois animaux), généralement présenté sous un chapiteau ou autour d'un anneau.

Word origin

The French noun cirque developed from Latin circus, "ring" or "circular course", whose arena sense became linked with organized shows and related rounded forms.

Usage tips

  • In Quel cirque ! and faire le cirque, cirque refers colloquially to a chaotic fuss rather than to a performance.

Other meanings

  • fussnoun
  • cirquenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word