French word

lanterne

Pronunciation

IPA/lɑ̃tɛʁn/

Meaning

  • feminine nounlantern

Example

J'ai pris une lanterne pour la randonnée.

I took a lantern for the hike.

Illustration for lanterne (lantern)

More examples

À la fête, une lanterne chinoise était accrochée à l'entrée.

At the festival, a Chinese lantern was hung at the entrance.

Core concept

A portable light sheltered inside a frame, useful for guiding movement or marking a ceremonial setting.

Common phrases

  • lanterne de poche

    pocket lantern

  • lanterne chinoise

    Chinese lantern

Similar words

lampe: A powered light used to brighten a room or work area.
bougie: A small wax light with a wick that produces a gentle glow.
lampe de poche: A small, handheld battery-powered light for use on the go.
veilleuse: A small light that softly illuminates a room at night, often during sleep.

Definition in French

Accessoire portable fermé ou semi-ouvert contenant une flamme ou une ampoule, destiné à éclairer les environs lors d'un déplacement ou d'une cérémonie.

Word origin

French lanterne comes from Old French lanterne, inherited from Latin lanterna for an enclosed lamp.

Usage tips

  • In lanterne rouge, the word is used figuratively for the last person or team in a ranking, not for a physical lantern.

Word lists with this word