French word

duc

Pronunciation

IPA/dyk/

Meaning

  • masculine nounduke

Example

Le duc est arrivé au château.

The duke arrived at the castle.

Illustration for duc (duke)

More examples

Ils ont vu le duc en ville.

They saw the duke in town.

Core concept

A noble ruler placed below a king and associated with a duchy's territory.

Similar words

roi: A title for the monarch who holds supreme power over a country.
prince: A title for a male member of a royal family.
noble: A person belonging to the aristocratic class through rank or birth.

Definition in French

Titre de noblesse élevé porté par une personne qui détient ou gouverne un duché, généralement héréditaire et placé au-dessus du marquis et en dessous du roi.

Word origin

Latin dux passed into Old French as duc, which came to designate a high-ranking noble who held or governed a duchy.

Usage tips

  • Duc is mainly a historical, literary, or formal word rather than an ordinary modern form of address.

Word lists with this word