French word

moment

Pronunciation

IPA/momɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbit

Example

Attends un moment, s'il te plaît.

Wait a bit, please.

Illustration for moment (bit)

More examples

Je reviens dans un moment.

I'll be back in a moment.

Core concept

A short pause on a timeline, lasting long enough for a brief delay but not for an extended period.

Common phrases

  • un moment

    a moment

  • dans un moment

    in a moment

Similar words

instant: A split second of time.
pause: A short break in an activity or conversation.

Definition in French

Période brève ou instant, utilisée pour marquer un court délai ou une pause momentanée.

Word origin

The French noun moment was borrowed from Latin momentum, which referred to movement and then to a fleeting interval or point in time.

Usage tips

  • In "Attends un moment", moment means a short while, while "un instant" more strongly suggests an immediate instant.

Other meanings

  • instantnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word