French word

pique-nique

Pronunciation

IPA/piknik/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpicnic

Example

On organise un pique-nique après le travail.

We are organizing a picnic after work.

Illustration for pique-nique (picnic)

More examples

Les enfants adorent le pique-nique au parc.

The children love the picnic at the park.

Core concept

Friends gathered outside, casually eating small dishes and enjoying time together rather than having a formal meal.

Common phrases

  • partir en pique-nique

    go on a picnic

  • inviter à un pique-nique

    invite ___ to a picnic

  • un pique-nique improvisé

    an impromptu picnic

Similar words

repas en plein air: Any meal eaten outdoors.
déjeuner sur l'herbe: A lunch eaten outdoors, often while sitting on grass.
barbecue: An outdoor gathering centered on grilling food over a fire or grill.

Definition in French

Rassemblement convivial en plein air autour d'un repas simple, organisé occasionnellement pour se détendre.

Word origin

The French compound pique-nique appeared in the seventeenth century and combines piquer, meaning to pick at, with the older element nique.

Usage tips

  • French uses faire or organiser un pique-nique, while the related verb is pique-niquer, as in On va pique-niquer dimanche.

Opposites

  • repas au restaurantrestaurant mealnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word