French Conversation · Level 155
30 words
French word
consister
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃siste/
Meaning
- verbconsist in
Example
Son travail consiste à aider les clients.
His job consists in helping customers.
More examples
Le problème consiste à trouver une solution rapide.
The problem consists in finding a quick solution.
Core concept
A thing's defining basis resting in one action or element.
Common phrases
consister à + infinitif
consist in doing ___
consister en + nom
consist of ___
Similar words
résider: Have its essence or cause lie in a particular point or place.
constituer: Form a whole from several elements.
se composer: Be composed of several parts that form a whole.
comprendre: Include several elements or items within a whole.
Definition in French
Indiquer que l'essentiel ou la nature d'une chose se trouve dans une action, un état ou un élément donné ; se construit souvent avec « consister à » + infinitif ou « consister en » + nom.
Word origin
The French verb consister comes from Latin consistere, formed from con- and sistere, and its sense moved from standing or being established to having its basis in something.
Usage tips
- For an action, consister takes à followed by an infinitive, as in consister à aider.
Other meanings
- consist ofverb
Related words
- consistancecompositionnoun
- consistantsubstantialadjective