French word

pendule

Pronunciation

IPA/pɑ̃dyl/

Meaning

  • feminine nounclock

Example

J'ai acheté une pendule pour le salon.

I bought a clock for the living room.

Illustration for pendule (clock)

More examples

Je dois mettre la pendule à l'heure.

I have to set the clock.

Core concept

An ornate mantel clock with a visible pendulum moving steadily inside.

Common phrases

  • la pendule murale

    wall clock

  • mettre la pendule à l'heure

    set the clock

  • la pendule de cheminée

    mantel clock

Similar words

horloge: A clock mounted on a wall or installed in a building to display the time.
réveil: A small clock that sounds an alarm at a set time.
montre: A small clock worn on the wrist or carried around.

Definition in French

Objet d'horlogerie de taille moyenne conçu pour être posé sur un meuble et destiné à indiquer l'heure, souvent orné et doté d'un mécanisme oscillant (balancier).

Word origin

French pendule comes from Latin pendulus, meaning "hanging," and later named a clock regulated by an oscillating pendulum.

Usage tips

  • The clock is une pendule, feminine, while un pendule usually means a pendulum in physics or mechanics.

Other meanings

  • pendulum clocknoun
  • pendulumnoun

Word lists with this word