French word

dé

Pronunciation

IPA/de/

Meaning

  • masculine noundie

Example

Les dés sont dans la boîte.

The dice are in the box.

Illustration for dé (die)

More examples

Il a lancé un dé pour commencer la partie.

He rolled a die to start the game.

Core concept

A small numbered cube tossed to let chance select one outcome.

Common phrases

  • un dé

    a die

  • lancer un dé

    roll a die

Similar words

chance: A favorable possibility or a stroke of good fortune.
hasard: An unforeseen event or circumstance resulting from chance.
jeu: A game or pastime undertaken for enjoyment.
pari: A wager of money or points on the result of an event.

Definition in French

Désigne un petit cube numéroté que l'on lance pour produire un résultat imprévisible.

Word origin

French dé comes through Old French from Latin datum, meaning "a thing given," and came to name a die that gives a game result.

Usage tips

  • Dé is masculine, and its plural dés is pronounced the same as the singular, so the article usually signals the number.

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