French Conversation · Level 77
60 words
French word
commencement
Pronunciation
IPA/komɑ̃səmɑ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounbeginning
Example
Le commencement de la réunion est à neuf heures.
The beginning of the meeting is at nine o'clock.
More examples
Le commencement des vacances me rend heureux.
The beginning of the vacation makes me happy.
Core concept
A marked starting point from which an event or period moves forward.
Common phrases
au commencement de
at the beginning of
le commencement des vacances
the beginning of the vacation
au commencement du mois
at the beginning of the month
Similar words
début: The first point at which an event or action starts.
départ: The moment when a person or object sets off.
ouverture: The opening of a ceremony, shop, or exhibition.
Definition in French
Moment ou point où quelque chose commence; nom désignant le début d'un événement, d'une période ou d'une action, souvent employé dans un registre soutenu.
Word origin
The noun comes from Old French commencement, formed from commencer with the suffix -ment and tracing back to Late Latin cominitiare.
Usage tips
- In English, commencement often means a graduation ceremony, but French commencement means a beginning and sounds relatively formal.
Opposites
- finendnoun
- conclusionconclusionnoun
Related words
- recommencementresumptionnoun
- commencerbeginverb
- commencébegunadjective