French Conversation · Level 27
90 words
French word
instant
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃stɑ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounmoment
Example
C'est fini en un instant.
It was over in a moment.
More examples
Un instant suffit pour tout changer.
An instant is enough to change everything.
Core concept
A tiny slice of time in which an event happens before the flow moves on.
Common phrases
en un instant
in an instant
un instant de silence
a moment of silence
un instant s'il vous plaît
one moment, please
Similar words
moment: A short stretch of time occupied by an event or situation.
seconde: A measure of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.
Definition in French
Très court laps de temps, un moment presque imperceptible pendant lequel quelque chose se produit ou change.
Word origin
French instant comes through Old French from Latin instans, the present participle of instare, meaning to press upon or be imminent.
Usage tips
- Instant is masculine, so the usual article is un instant, not une instant.
Related words
- instantanéinstantaneousadjective
- instantanémentinstantaneouslyadverb
- instantanéitéinstantaneitynoun