French Conversation · Level 119
60 words
French word
portée
Pronunciation
IPA/pɔʁte/
Meaning
- feminine nounscope
Example
La portée de ce projet est limitée.
The scope of this project is limited.
More examples
Cette décision a une grande portée politique.
This decision has significant political impact.
Core concept
A force travels outward from a source to the furthest point where it still reaches, physically or through its effects.
Common phrases
à portée de main
within reach
une portée importante
significant impact
la portée d'un message
the impact of a message
Similar words
influence: The power to affect others or circumstances, including the extent of that effect.
effet: The outcome or change produced by a cause.
répercussion: An effect that emerges later from an earlier event and spreads outward.
rayon: The distance that can be reached from a center.
Definition in French
Désigne l'étendue, physique ou figurée, jusqu'où quelque chose peut atteindre ou produire des effets.
Word origin
Portée comes from the feminine past participle of Old French porter, 'to carry', ultimately from Latin portare, expressing what something carries as far as it reaches.
Usage tips
- As a feminine noun, portée takes la, and avoir de la portée describes an idea, remark, or action as having influence.
Other meanings
- impactnoun
- rangenoun
- significancenoun
Opposites
- limitationlimitationnoun
- restrictionrestrictionnoun