French word

dictionnaire

Pronunciation

IPA/diksjonɛʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine noundictionary

Example

Peux-tu me prêter ton dictionnaire ?

Can you lend me your dictionary?

Illustration for dictionnaire (dictionary)

More examples

Je vais consulter un dictionnaire pour vérifier l'orthographe.

I'm going to consult a dictionary to check the spelling.

Core concept

A book or app with words arranged as entries, each opening a path to meaning, pronunciation, and real usage.

Common phrases

  • un dictionnaire

    a dictionary

  • consulter un dictionnaire

    consult a dictionary

  • chercher dans le dictionnaire

    look in the dictionary

Similar words

dico: A casual shortened term for a dictionary used in everyday speech.
dictionnaire électronique: A dictionary accessed through an electronic device or application.
vocabulaire: The range of words known or used by a language or speaker.

Definition in French

Outil, imprimé ou numérique, qui rassemble les mots d'une langue avec leurs sens, leur prononciation et des exemples d'usage, servant à consulter le vocabulaire.

Word origin

French dictionnaire comes from Medieval Latin dictionarium, a collection of words formed from dicere, "to say", with -arium indicating a place or container.

Usage tips

  • The familiar spoken shortening dico is common in informal French, while dictionnaire suits writing and formal contexts.

Word lists with this word