French word

poète

Pronunciation

IPA/poɛt/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpoet

Example

J'ai rencontré un poète hier.

I met a poet yesterday.

Illustration for poète (poet)

More examples

Le poète a publié un nouveau recueil.

The poet published a new collection.

Core concept

A person who compresses thought and feeling into carefully shaped, rhythmic language.

Common phrases

  • un poète célèbre

    a famous poet

  • un poète contemporain

    a contemporary poet

Similar words

écrivain: A person who writes narratives or other prose for books and articles.
auteur: A person regarded as the creator of a specific artistic or written work.
artiste: A person who communicates through painting, music, or other creative arts.

Definition in French

Personne qui écrit ou compose des poèmes, en soignant le texte et le rythme.

Word origin

French poète comes from Latin poeta, borrowed from Greek poiētēs, meaning a maker or creator.

Usage tips

  • In French, poète can describe a person with notably imaginative or expressive language, sometimes sincerely and sometimes ironically.

Related words

Word lists with this word