French Conversation · Level 10
88 words
French word
mot
Pronunciation
IPA/mo/
Meaning
- masculine nounword
Example
Je ne comprends pas ce mot.
I don't understand this word.
More examples
Elle a trouvé le bon mot pour le décrire.
She found the right word to describe it.
Core concept
A compact packet of sound or writing that carries a piece of meaning.
Common phrases
avoir le dernier mot
have the last word
un mot d'excuse
a word of apology
Similar words
expression: A word or group of words expressing a particular meaning or way of saying something.
phrase: A sequence of words forming a meaningful phrase, clause, or sentence.
Definition in French
Un mot est la plus petite unité de sens d'une langue, formée d'un ou plusieurs sons ou lettres et employée pour exprimer une idée, une notion ou une information.
Word origin
French mot comes through Old French from Latin muttum, a term for a muttered sound or word.
Usage tips
- In dire un mot, mot can mean 'a word' or 'a few words', so the phrase does not always refer to one lexical item.