French Conversation · Level 15
90 words
French word
geste
Pronunciation
IPA/ʒɛst/
Meaning
- masculine noungesture
Example
Fais un geste.
Make a gesture.
More examples
Elle a répondu par un geste de la main.
She responded with a hand gesture.
Core concept
A bodily motion that makes a thought, feeling, or intention perceptible.
Common phrases
faire un geste
make a gesture
un geste amical
a friendly gesture
un geste de la main
a hand gesture
Similar words
mouvement: Physical motion involving the body or one of its parts.
signe: A gesture or sign used to communicate meaning or give a signal.
attention: A small act showing consideration or kindness toward another person.
Definition in French
Mouvement du corps, surtout des mains ou du visage, qui sert à exprimer une pensée, une émotion ou une intention.
Word origin
The noun geste is an inherited French development of Latin gestus through Old French, with its early sense of an action or conduct narrowing toward a meaningful bodily movement.
Usage tips
- In faire un geste, geste often means a concession or kind act rather than a literal movement, especially in a negotiation or an act of generosity.
Other meanings
- actnoun
Opposites
- immobilitéimmobilitynoun
Related words
- gesticulergesticulateverb
- gesticulationgesticulationnoun
- gestuelgesturaladjective