French word

combinaison

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃binɛzɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncombination

Example

J'aime la combinaison de ces couleurs.

I like the combination of these colors.

Illustration for combinaison (combination)

More examples

Il a enfilé une combinaison avant de peindre.

He put on a coverall before painting.

Core concept

Separate parts brought together into one coordinated whole, like colors arranged as a set or fabric joined into one garment.

Common phrases

  • une combinaison de couleurs

    a combination of colors

  • porter une combinaison

    wear a coverall

Similar words

mélange: Different ingredients or colors blended into one whole.
composition: The complete structure formed by bringing elements together.
arrangement: An arrangement created by positioning elements in relation to one another.

Definition in French

Résultat ou manière d'associer plusieurs éléments entre eux ; s'emploie aussi pour désigner un vêtement une-pièce ou un sous-vêtement selon le contexte.

Word origin

French combinaison comes from Medieval Latin combinatio, from Latin combinare, 'to join together', which gave the word its central sense of joining elements.

Usage tips

  • Combinaison is feminine, so the usual form is une combinaison, and combinaison de introduces the elements being combined.

Other meanings

  • coverallsnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • combinercombineverb
  • combinécombinedadjective

Word lists with this word