French word

contemplatif

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃tɑ̃platif/

Meaning

  • adjectivepensive

Example

Il reste contemplatif pendant quelques minutes.

He remains pensive for a few minutes.

Illustration for contemplatif (pensive)

More examples

Il lit en silence, l'air contemplatif.

He reads silently, with a pensive air.

Core concept

A person turned inward, quietly absorbed in thought while the outside world recedes.

Common phrases

  • air contemplatif

    pensive air

  • visage contemplatif

    pensive face

Similar words

pensif: Silent and deeply occupied with thought for some time.
songeur: Quietly lost in thought and absorbed in private reflection.

Definition in French

Qui adopte une attitude pensive, absorbé dans la réflexion intérieure plutôt que dans l'action immédiate.

Word origin

Contemplatif is formed from contempler with the suffix -atif and ultimately comes from Latin contemplativus, from contemplari.

Usage tips

  • Contemplatif sounds somewhat literary in everyday French, where pensif or perdu dans ses pensées is often more natural.

Other meanings

  • meditativeadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word