French word

marquis

Pronunciation

IPA/maʁki/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmarquis

Example

Nous avons rencontré le marquis hier soir.

We met the marquis last night.

Illustration for marquis (marquis)

More examples

Le marquis a hérité du titre de son père.

The marquis inherited his title from his father.

Core concept

A titled nobleman stationed at the edge of a kingdom, ranked above a count and below a duke.

Definition in French

Titre de noblesse héréditaire, entre comte et duc, historiquement chargé de défendre une marche.

Word origin

French marquis comes through Old French marchis from Medieval Latin marchio, a title linked to a border territory and ultimately to marca, meaning borderland.

Usage tips

  • French marquis is pronounced roughly mar-kee, with the final s silent.

Word lists with this word