French Conversation · Level 23
90 words
French word
pause
Pronunciation
IPA/poz/
Meaning
- feminine nounbreak
Example
On fait une pause maintenant?
Shall we take a break now?
More examples
La pause publicitaire commence dans deux minutes.
The commercial break starts in two minutes.
Core concept
A short gap in an activity, with the same activity ready to continue afterward.
Common phrases
pause publicitaire
commercial break
pause café
coffee break
Similar words
repos: Rest taken to recover from physical or mental fatigue, often for some time.
pause-café: A brief break for coffee, light conversation, and a change of pace.
pause-déjeuner: A midday break lasting long enough to have lunch.
interruption: A temporary stop in an activity or conversation that may not provide rest.
Definition in French
Désigne un bref intervalle entre deux actions, pendant lequel l'activité principale est suspendue mais peut ensuite reprendre.
Word origin
French pause comes from Latin pausa, from Greek pausis, meaning a stopping, and developed as the word for a temporary break.
Usage tips
- Pause is feminine, so standard phrases use une pause and faire une pause.
Other meanings
- interruptionnoun
- haltnoun
- intervalnoun
Opposites
- continuitécontinuitynoun