French word

diagonale

Pronunciation

IPA/djagonal/

Meaning

  • feminine noundiagonal

Example

On voit la diagonale sur ce dessin.

You can see the diagonal in this drawing.

Illustration for diagonale (diagonal)

More examples

On plie la feuille le long de la diagonale.

We fold the sheet along its diagonal.

Core concept

A line cutting across a flat figure between two opposite corners.

Common phrases

  • la diagonale d'une feuille

    the diagonal of a sheet

  • la diagonale d'un polygone

    the diagonal of a polygon

Similar words

droite: A straight line extending endlessly in both directions.
ligne: A single line connecting points or shapes.
segment: A straight part of a line with two fixed endpoints.

Definition in French

Ligne droite qui relie deux sommets opposés d'une figure plane, en particulier dans un quadrilatère.

Word origin

The French noun diagonale is a learned form from Latin diagonalis, which derives from Greek diagōnios.

Usage tips

  • In movement or layout, en diagonale is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning diagonally.

Related words

  • diagonaldiagonaladjective
  • diagonalementdiagonallyadverb

Word lists with this word