French word

dessin

Pronunciation

IPA/desɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noundrawing

Example

Elle a fait un dessin pour son fils.

She made a drawing for her son.

Illustration for dessin (drawing)

More examples

Il a montré un dessin à ses amis.

He showed a drawing to his friends.

Core concept

A quick line image used to represent something or make an explanation clearer.

Common phrases

  • montrer un dessin

    to show a drawing

  • un dessin simple

    a simple drawing

  • un dessin au feutre

    a felt-tip drawing

Similar words

image: A visible figure or form that can be recognized by sight.
photo: A single image captured with a camera.
illustration: A drawn picture that helps explain written content.
peinture: A flat artwork made by applying colored paint.

Definition in French

Image tracée à la main ou au crayon, souvent simple ou schématique, servant à expliquer ou représenter.

Word origin

The noun dessin developed from French dessiner, which ultimately comes from Latin designare, 'to mark out or indicate'.

Usage tips

  • In dessin animé, animé means 'animated', so the phrase refers to an animated cartoon rather than a still drawing.

Other meanings

  • diagramnoun
  • sketchnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word