French Conversation · Level 24
90 words
French word
instinct
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃stɛ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nouninstinct
Example
Elle a suivi son instinct et a accepté le poste.
She followed her instinct and accepted the position.
More examples
Il a réagi par instinct quand le chien a aboyé.
He reacted by instinct when the dog barked.
Core concept
An inborn drive that makes a living being act automatically in a situation.
Common phrases
suivre son instinct
follow one's instinct
l'instinct de survie
survival instinct
l'instinct maternel
maternal instinct
Similar words
intuition: A feeling that something is true without reasoning or evidence.
impulsion: A sudden, powerful urge to do something.
réflexe: A rapid, unconscious bodily response to an outside stimulus.
envie: A desire or wish to do something.
Definition in French
Tendance innée qui pousse un être vivant à agir sans raisonnement ni apprentissage.
Word origin
The French noun instinct derives from Latin instinctus, a noun meaning incitement or impulse formed from a verb meaning to urge.
Usage tips
- Instinct differs from intuition: instinct is inborn, while intuition can be a rapid judgment shaped by experience or subtle cues.