French Conversation · Level 11
89 words
French word
minimum
Pronunciation
IPA/minimɔm/
Meaning
- masculine nounbare minimum
Example
Il a fait le minimum pour aider.
He did the bare minimum to help.
More examples
Il ne fait que le minimum au travail.
He does only the minimum at work.
Core concept
The smallest amount that still lets a task succeed.
Common phrases
faire le minimum
do the minimum
le strict minimum
the bare minimum
au minimum
at least
Similar words
strict minimum: The absolute bare minimum allowed or possible.
minimum vital: The minimum needed to maintain health or support daily life.
quantité: The amount or extent of something.
Definition in French
Ce qui suffit au minimum pour atteindre un but donné ; la portion la plus réduite nécessaire.
Word origin
French minimum comes from Latin minimum, a substantivized neuter form of minimus meaning smallest, and retains that limiting sense.
Usage tips
- In speech, au moins is often more common for 'at least', while au minimum is also correct and more formal or precise.