French Conversation · Level 62
76 words
French word
occidental
Pronunciation
IPA/ɔksidɑ̃tal/
Meaning
- adjectivewestern
Example
La culture occidentale influence le monde.
Western culture influences the world.
More examples
Les pays occidentaux privilégient souvent la démocratie.
Western countries often favor democracy.
Core concept
A broad western cultural sphere linked to places, peoples, and historical traditions.
Common phrases
monde occidental
western world
pays occidentaux
western countries
valeurs occidentales
western values
Similar words
européen: Relating to European culture or people.
américain: Relating to the Americas or the United States, its culture, or its people.
Definition in French
Relatif aux pays de l'Ouest ou à la civilisation occidentale.
Word origin
The adjective occidental derives from Latin occidentalis, a form built on occidens, which refers to the west as the direction of sunset.
Usage tips
- Occidental can describe either geographic location or cultural affiliation, so context distinguishes it from the directional phrase à l'ouest.
Other meanings
- westernernoun
Opposites
- orientaleasternadjective
Related words
- occidentalisationwesternizationnoun
- occidentaliserwesternizeverb