French word

gauche

Pronunciation

IPA/goʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounleft

Example

Il y a un banc à ta gauche.

There is a bench on your left.

Illustration for gauche (left)

More examples

Tournez à votre gauche au prochain carrefour.

At the next intersection, turn to your left.

Core concept

The space beside a person or object on the side associated with the left hand.

Common phrases

  • à votre gauche

    to your left

  • à sa gauche

    to their left

Similar words

droite: The right side of a person or thing.
côté: A side of an object or place.

Definition in French

Côté situé à la gauche d'une personne ou d'un objet, opposé à la droite.

Word origin

Gauche comes through Old French gauche from a Germanic source, with related gauchir meaning to turn aside, and later names the side opposite the right.

Usage tips

  • Location normally uses à gauche, while la gauche also refers to the political left.

Other meanings

  • to the leftadverb
  • left wingnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • gaucherleft-handernoun
  • gaucherieawkwardnessnoun

Word lists with this word