French Conversation · Level 114
59 words
French word
promiscuité
Pronunciation
IPA/pʁomiskɥite/
Meaning
- feminine nounlack of privacy
Example
La promiscuité entre voisins crée des tensions.
The lack of privacy between neighbors creates tensions.
More examples
Aux heures de pointe, la promiscuité dans le métro est gênante.
During rush hour, the lack of privacy on the subway is uncomfortable.
Core concept
A shared space becomes so crowded and exposed that private life spills into the presence of others.
Common phrases
promiscuité dans les transports en commun
lack of privacy on public transportation
la promiscuité au bureau
lack of privacy at the office
Similar words
intimité: A protected sphere of private life and personal feelings.
proximité: The state of being physically close to a person or thing.
cohabitation: The shared living of several people in the same home or space.
Definition in French
Manque de vie privée causé par une proximité excessive entre personnes, logements ou espaces.
Word origin
French formed promiscuité from the Latin noun promiscuĭtas, derived from promiscuus for mixed or undifferentiated things.
Usage tips
- In housing contexts, promiscuité usually has a negative sense, while sexual promiscuity is another possible context that requires clear interpretation.
Other meanings
- overcrowdingnoun
Opposites
- intimitéintimacynoun
- discrétiondiscretionnoun