French word

périscope

Pronunciation

IPA/peʁiskɔp/

Meaning

  • masculine nounperiscope

Example

Avec un périscope, il peut voir au-dessus de l'eau.

Using a periscope, he can see above the water.

Illustration for périscope (periscope)

More examples

Au musée, les enfants ont regardé à travers un périscope.

At the museum, the children looked through a periscope.

Core concept

A slim tube, often fitted with angled mirrors, that lets a hidden observer see over or beyond an obstacle.

Similar words

espion: A person who secretly investigates the private affairs of people or organizations.
observateur: A person who watches events or people closely and attentively.
surveillance: Watching people or places from afar to remain alert to developments.

Definition in French

Appareil, souvent un tube équipé de miroirs, qui permet d'observer une zone au-delà d'un obstacle sans exposer l'observateur, notamment utilisé dans les sous-marins.

Word origin

Périscope is a learned scientific formation from Greek peri- ('around') and skopein ('to look at').

Usage tips

  • Périscope is masculine, so the standard forms are un périscope, ce périscope, and des périscopes.

Word lists with this word