French Conversation · Level 20
90 words
French word
oreille
Pronunciation
IPA/oʁɛj/
Meaning
- feminine nounear
Example
Ne mets pas d'eau dans ton oreille.
Don't put water in your ear.
More examples
Il a mal à l'oreille depuis hier.
He has had an earache since yesterday.
Core concept
A ridged ear acts like a small sound-collecting funnel connected to the organs of hearing.
Common phrases
avoir mal à l'oreille
have an earache
se boucher l'oreille
plug one's ear
prêter l'oreille
lend an ear
Similar words
ouïe: The sense or ability to perceive and distinguish sounds.
oreillette: A small receiver or earphone held against the ear.
Definition in French
Désigne principalement la partie externe de l'oreille (le pavillon) et, par extension, l'ensemble de l'appareil auditif.
Word origin
The French noun comes from Latin auricula, meaning a small ear, and reached its modern form through Old French sound changes.
Usage tips
- The spelling -ille in oreille has a glide sound, so the word is pronounced roughly /ɔʁɛj/, not like English 'ill'.
Related words
- oreilletteearbudnoun