French Conversation · Level 122
60 words
French word
maternité
Pronunciation
IPA/matɛʁnite/
Meaning
- feminine nounmotherhood
Example
La maternité apporte des joies et des défis.
Motherhood brings joys and challenges.
More examples
Le service de maternité accueille les nouvelles mères.
The maternity ward welcomes new mothers.
Core concept
The idea of motherhood made concrete either in maternal care or in a hospital devoted to childbirth.
Common phrases
service de maternité
maternity ward
congé de maternité
maternity leave
Similar words
mère: A woman who has a child or has given birth.
naissance: The event or moment when a person or animal is born.
grossesse: The state of carrying a fetus in the body.
accouchement: The act or moment of giving birth to a baby.
Definition in French
Condition et attributs liés à la maternité, c'est-à-dire le fait d'être mère ; le terme désigne aussi l'établissement où se pratiquent les accouchements.
Word origin
The French noun maternité continues Latin maternitas, a derivative of mater meaning 'mother', and its French meaning includes both maternal status and a childbirth facility.
Usage tips
- In à la maternité, maternité normally refers to the maternity hospital or ward, while context can make la maternité mean motherhood more generally.