French Conversation · Level 4
88 words
French word
mafia
Pronunciation
IPA/mafja/
Meaning
- feminine nounmafia
Example
Il travaille pour la mafia.
He works for the mafia.
More examples
La lutte contre la mafia mobilise de nombreuses forces.
The fight against the mafia mobilizes many forces.
Core concept
A hidden chain of command that uses threats and illicit deals to control people, territory, or profitable markets.
Common phrases
la lutte contre la mafia
the fight against the mafia
le parrain de la mafia
the mafia godfather
les victimes de la mafia
victims of the mafia
Similar words
organisation mafieuse: A criminal organization that uses violence and extortion for profit.
gang: A small criminal gang involved in illegal acts using weapons or violence.
réseau: A network of people and organizations supporting criminal activity.
milieu: The social world of criminals and illegal activities.
Definition in French
Organisation criminelle secrète et hiérarchisée qui exerce des activités illégales (extorsion, trafic, corruption) pour tirer profit et contrôler un territoire ou des marchés.
Word origin
French mafia is borrowed from Italian mafia, a term associated with Sicilian organized crime in the nineteenth century whose deeper origin remains uncertain.
Usage tips
- Mafia is feminine in French, so standard usage is la mafia, and the noun can also denote a powerful self-serving clique outside criminal contexts.