French word

inspiration

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃spiʁasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounidea

Example

J'ai eu une inspiration pour ce projet.

I had an idea for this project.

Illustration for inspiration (idea)

More examples

Quand je suis en panne d'inspiration, je fais une promenade.

When I'm stuck for inspiration, I take a walk.

Core concept

A sudden breath of creative energy that turns an unfinished problem into a possible direction.

Common phrases

  • faire appel à l'inspiration

    draw on inspiration

  • une vague d'inspiration

    a wave of inspiration

  • être en panne d'inspiration

    be stuck for inspiration

Similar words

idée: A specific thought or plan for doing something.
imagination: The ability to picture unreal things or scenes in the mind.
intuition: A quick, hard-to-explain understanding guided by experience or feeling.
créativité: The ability to produce original ideas continually.

Definition in French

Une idée soudaine et originale qui jaillit dans l'esprit et sert de point de départ pour créer ou résoudre quelque chose.

Word origin

The word traces back through Latin inspiratio to inspirare, formed from in- meaning into and spirare meaning to breathe, then acquired its mental sense.

Usage tips

  • The construction s'inspirer de quelqu'un or de quelque chose means to draw on or take influence from someone or something, not to receive a literal breath.

Other meanings

  • inhalationnoun
  • inspirationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • inspirerinspireverb
  • inspiréinspiredadjective

Word lists with this word