French Conversation · Level 92
60 words
French word
dicton
Pronunciation
IPA/diktɔ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounproverb
Example
Ma grand-mère connaît beaucoup de dictons.
My grandmother knows many proverbs.
More examples
Comme dit le dicton, mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
Core concept
A short saying passed from mouth to mouth, carrying practical wisdom or a shared observation.
Common phrases
comme dit le dicton
as the saying goes
Similar words
proverbe: A short, widely quoted set expression conveying practical wisdom or a moral lesson.
maxime: A concise statement of a personal principle or admonition.
adage: A traditional saying expressing a trusted rule based on experience.
Definition in French
Formule courte et populaire, souvent répétée oralement, qui transmet un conseil pratique, une observation ou une croyance collective.
Word origin
The noun comes from Latin dictum, meaning "something said," through dicere, "to say," and developed in French for a traditional popular saying.
Usage tips
- Dicton is masculine, so standard forms include un dicton and des dictons, with the plural -s normally silent.
Other meanings
- adagenoun