French word

minuit

Pronunciation

IPA/minɥi/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmidnight

Example

Il est minuit.

It is midnight.

Illustration for minuit (midnight)

More examples

Le spectacle commence à minuit.

The show starts at midnight.

Core concept

The exact night-time point where one calendar date gives way to the next.

Common phrases

  • à minuit

    at midnight

  • vers minuit

    around midnight

  • jusqu'à minuit

    until midnight

Similar words

zéro heure: A written or timetable expression for the time 00:00.
minuit pile: An informal expression stressing that the time is precisely midnight.

Definition in French

Terme qui désigne le moment précis où le jour change, soit 0 heure de la journée.

Word origin

The French noun minuit derives through Old French mie nuit from Latin media nox, meaning the middle of the night.

Usage tips

  • Minuit is masculine, but the standard time expression is à minuit, without an article.

Opposites

Word lists with this word