French word

opération

Pronunciation

IPA/opeʁasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsurgery

Example

L'opération s'est bien passée.

The surgery went well.

Illustration for opération (surgery)

More examples

Le médecin a expliqué les risques avant l'opération.

The doctor explained the risks before the operation.

Core concept

A deliberate procedure carried out step by step to produce a result, especially a surgical intervention on a patient.

Common phrases

  • préparer une opération

    prepare for an operation

  • salle d'opération

    operating room

  • avant l'opération

    before the operation

Similar words

chirurgie: The branch of medicine concerned with treating illness or injury through surgery.
intervention: A hospital procedure carried out by medical staff to treat illness or injury.

Definition in French

Intervention chirurgicale réalisée sur un patient pour traiter, réparer ou diagnostiquer une affection.

Word origin

Opération comes through Old French from Latin operatio, from operari, 'to work or carry out', and keeps the general idea of carrying something out.

Usage tips

  • For surgery, subir une opération means undergo surgery, while opérer means perform surgery; opération is feminine, so une opération.

Other meanings

  • operationnoun

Related words

  • opérerperform surgeryverb
  • opératoiresurgicaladjective

Word lists with this word