French word

interruption

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃tɛʁypsjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbreak

Example

Il y a eu une interruption de courant hier soir.

There was a break in the power supply last night.

Illustration for interruption (break)

More examples

Une interruption momentanée nous a obligés à arrêter le film.

A temporary interruption forced us to stop the movie.

Core concept

A continuous flow suddenly broken, leaving a gap in power, communication, or speech.

Common phrases

  • une interruption de courant

    power outage

  • une interruption momentanée

    temporary interruption

Similar words

coupure: A sudden break in the supply or continuity of electricity, communications, or similar services.
panne: A breakdown that prevents a machine or system from operating.
pause: A short, temporary break in an activity or conversation.
arrêt: A complete stop of a moving process, activity, or operation.

Definition in French

Suspension momentanée d'une activité, d'une communication ou d'un service, ou action qui brise le fil d'une conversation.

Word origin

French interruption is a learned borrowing from Latin interruptio, from interrumpere, which combines inter- meaning "between" with rumpere meaning "to break."

Usage tips

  • Interruption is feminine, so the usual form is une interruption, including in une interruption de courant.

Other meanings

  • interruptionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word