French Conversation · Level 122
60 words
French word
oubliette
Pronunciation
IPA/ublijɛt/
Meaning
- feminine noundungeon
Example
Ils ont découvert une oubliette sous la tour.
They discovered a dungeon beneath the tower.
More examples
Mon ancien compte mail est une oubliette où je ne reçois jamais de messages.
My old email account is a dungeon where I never receive any messages.
Core concept
A tiny prison hollowed into castle masonry, designed to make its captive disappear from ordinary life.
Similar words
prison: A facility for confining criminals for long periods and depriving them of their freedom.
cellule: A small room for holding one or several people under guard or in isolation.
Definition in French
Petit cachot souterrain creusé dans la muraille d'un château ou sous une tour, destiné à isoler un prisonnier qu'on voulait oublier.
Word origin
The noun derives from French oublier, 'to forget', combined with -ette, a suffix that commonly marks something small.
Usage tips
- The noun is feminine, so standard French uses une oubliette and cette oubliette.