French word

oxygène

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔksiʒɛn/

Meaning

  • masculine nounoxygen

Example

Nous avons besoin d'oxygène pour respirer.

We need oxygen to breathe.

Illustration for oxygène (oxygen)

More examples

Les plantes produisent de l'oxygène.

Plants produce oxygen.

Core concept

A hidden, breathable part of the surrounding air that living bodies draw in.

Common phrases

  • besoin d'oxygène

    need for oxygen

  • produire de l'oxygène

    produce oxygen

Similar words

air: The colorless mixture of gases found around us.
gaz: A shapeless substance that expands to fill its surroundings.
respiration: The bodily process of taking in air and giving it back out.

Definition in French

Gaz essentiel pour la respiration des êtres vivants, incolore et inodore, constituant environ 21 % de l'air et se trouvant principalement sous forme de molécules O2.

Word origin

The French word oxygène is an eighteenth-century scientific formation from Greek oxus, acid or sharp, and -gene, producing.

Usage tips

  • The usual noun phrase for oxygen shortage is manque d'oxygène, with de reduced to d' before the vowel.

Word lists with this word