French Conversation · Level 115
59 words
French word
ménestrel
Pronunciation
IPA/menɛstʁɛl/
Meaning
- masculine nounminstrel
Example
Le ménestrel chantait une chanson.
The minstrel sang a song.
More examples
Un ménestrel racontait des légendes près du feu.
A minstrel was telling legends by the fire.
Core concept
A traveling medieval performer carrying songs and poems from a court to a public gathering.
Similar words
chanteur: Someone who sings as a profession or pastime.
poète: Someone who writes or composes poetry.
Definition in French
Personne qui, surtout au Moyen Âge, écrivait ou interprétait des chansons et des poèmes pour des cours ou pour le public, souvent en se déplaçant.
Word origin
Ménestrel comes from Old French menestrel, from Medieval Latin ministerialis, a term for a servant or official that developed into the name of a court musician.
Usage tips
- Ménestrel is masculine, so standard phrasing uses un ménestrel and ce ménestrel.