French Conversation · Level 33
90 words
French word
individu
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃dividy/
Meaning
- masculine nounindividual
Example
Chaque individu a des droits.
Each individual has rights.
More examples
Un individu isolé peut avoir besoin d'aide.
An isolated individual may need help.
Core concept
One distinct person shown as a separate unit among many others.
Common phrases
un individu
an individual
un individu isolé
an isolated individual
un individu lambda
an ordinary individual
Similar words
personne: A person referred to in ordinary, everyday language.
Definition in French
Une personne prise isolément, vue comme une unité distincte des autres.
Word origin
The French noun individu is a learned borrowing from Latin individuum, which was used as a noun for an indivisible entity.
Usage tips
- In ordinary conversation, personne or quelqu'un is usually more natural, while individu can sound formal or impersonal.
Other meanings
- personnoun
Opposites
- collectifcollectivenoun
Related words
- individualismeindividualismnoun
- individualisteindividualistnoun