French Conversation · Level 29
89 words
French word
général
Pronunciation
IPA/ʒeneʁal/
Meaning
- adjectivegeneral
Example
C'est une idée générale.
It's a general idea.
More examples
La règle générale est simple à comprendre.
The general rule is easy to understand.
Core concept
A large category that includes most ordinary examples while leaving room for exceptions.
Common phrases
la règle générale
general rule
l'opinion générale
general opinion
la situation générale
overall situation
Similar words
courant: Widely encountered and not unusual because it happens often.
habituel: Customary and done in the usual, familiar way.
ordinaire: Plain and ordinary rather than special or noticeable.
fréquent: Happening often or at frequent intervals.
Definition in French
Qui est commun ou habituel, valable pour la plupart des cas.
Word origin
Général is a learned French development from Latin generalis through Old French, with a root connected to genus and the notion of a group or kind.
Usage tips
- Général is an adjective, whereas en général and généralement are common ways to express the corresponding general idea in a sentence.
Other meanings
- broadadjective
- overalladjective
Opposites
- spécifiquespecificadjective
- particulierparticularadjective
Related words
- généralisergeneralizeverb
- généralitégeneralitynoun
- généralementgenerallyadverb