French word

organe

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔʁgan/

Meaning

  • masculine nounorgan

Example

Le cœur est un organe vital.

The heart is a vital organ.

Illustration for organe (organ)

More examples

Le parlement est un organe de l'État.

Parliament is an organ of the state.

Core concept

A living body's specialized working unit, where several tissues cooperate to perform one recognizable function.

Common phrases

  • organe de presse

    press organ

  • organe officiel

    official body

  • organe de décision

    decision-making body

Similar words

appareil: A body system whose parts work together to perform a particular function.
glande: A small body part that produces and releases fluids or hormones.
tissu: A soft body layer made of groups of similar cells.

Definition in French

Structure anatomique d'un être vivant, souvent formée de plusieurs tissus, jouant un rôle biologique identifiable.

Word origin

The word organe is inherited from Latin organum, itself borrowed from Greek organon for a tool or instrument, with the body-part sense developing from that function.

Usage tips

  • In French, organe can also mean an institutional or media body in phrases such as organe de presse, not only an anatomical part.

Other meanings

  • institutionnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word