French word

mœurs

Pronunciation

IPA/mœʁs/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncustoms

Example

On observe souvent les mœurs locales lors des fêtes.

Local customs are often observed during festivals.

Illustration for mœurs (customs)

More examples

Les mœurs locales se transmettent souvent de génération en génération.

Local customs are often passed down from generation to generation.

Core concept

The shared social code visible in a group's everyday conduct, traditions, and ideas of acceptable behavior.

Common phrases

  • mœurs locales

    local customs

  • coutumes et mœurs

    customs and mores

  • bonnes mœurs

    good morals

Similar words

habitudes: Repeated patterns of behavior in daily life.
coutumes: Traditional practices followed in a particular region or society.
manières: Typical ways people behave, including manners and social conduct.
usages: Common ways of doing things in a particular situation.

Definition in French

Ensemble des usages, des habitudes et des règles sociales partagées par un groupe.

Word origin

The French word continues Old French mœurs, inherited from Latin mōrēs, the plural form of mōs, meaning 'custom'.

Usage tips

  • Mœurs normally appears as a plural noun and takes plural agreement, as in les mœurs locales sont variées.

Other meanings

  • mannersnoun
  • moralsnoun

Opposites

  • immoralitéimmoralitynoun

Word lists with this word