French word

contrat

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃tʁa/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncontract

Example

J'ai signé le contrat hier.

I signed the contract yesterday.

Illustration for contrat (contract)

More examples

Le contrat de travail commence en mars.

The employment contract begins in March.

Core concept

A binding framework of mutual promises that turns agreement into specific duties and rights.

Common phrases

  • signer un contrat

    sign a contract

  • résilier un contrat

    terminate a contract

  • contrat de travail

    employment contract

Similar words

accord: An agreement between parties, made orally or in writing.
entente: An informal understanding or cooperative arrangement between people involved.
engagement: A commitment to undertake a specific duty or action.
promesse: A promise to do something in the future, made orally or in writing.

Definition in French

Un contrat est un accord entre deux ou plusieurs parties qui crée des obligations réciproques et des droits, généralement formalisé par un document écrit.

Word origin

French contrat developed from Latin contractus, the noun related to contrahere, which combines con- for together with trahere for draw.

Usage tips

  • The final t in contrat is silent, so the word is pronounced roughly like kon-trah, not kon-trakt.

Related words

Word lists with this word