French Conversation · Level 139
30 words
French word
clandestin
Pronunciation
IPA/klɑ̃dɛstɛ̃/
Meaning
- adjectivesecret
Example
Nous avons organisé une réunion clandestine.
We organized a secret meeting.
More examples
Il fait du travail clandestin pour gagner de l'argent.
He does illegal work to earn money.
Core concept
A secret arrangement kept outside normal public or official channels.
Common phrases
marché clandestin
black market
travail clandestin
illegal work
immigration clandestine
illegal immigration
Similar words
secret: Kept hidden so that other people do not know about it.
caché: Hidden from view or placed where it cannot easily be seen.
illégal: Against the law or official rules.
discret: Unobtrusive and unlikely to attract attention.
Definition in French
Qui est caché ou réalisé en secret, hors de la connaissance du public ou des autorités.
Word origin
French inherited clandestin from Latin clandestinus, whose base clam expressed secrecy or concealment.
Usage tips
- Clandestin often suggests illicit or unauthorized secrecy, whereas secret can describe an ordinary private matter without that implication.
Other meanings
- illegaladjective
- illegal immigrantnoun
Opposites
- publicpublicadjective
Related words
- clandestinitéclandestinitynoun
- clandestinementclandestinelyadverb