French Conversation · Level 75
60 words
French word
prophète
Pronunciation
IPA/pʁofɛt/
Meaning
- masculine nounprophet
Example
Les gens l'appelaient prophète.
People called him a prophet.
More examples
Il se disait prophète mais beaucoup le traitaient de charlatan.
He called himself a prophet, but many called him a charlatan.
Core concept
A religious messenger announcing what lies ahead, or a perceptive observer who recognizes major changes before others do.
Common phrases
se dire prophète
call oneself a prophet
faux prophète
false prophet
Similar words
visionnaire: A person with the foresight to recognize future trends and new ideas.
devin: A person who predicts future events through divination or intuition.
voyant: A person who foresees the future through psychic insight or divination.
Definition in French
Personne qui annonce ou prétend annoncer des événements futurs, souvent au sens religieux mais aussi au sens figuré pour quelqu'un qui voit venir des changements.
Word origin
French prophète continues Latin propheta, borrowed from Greek prophētēs for a person who publicly declares an inspired message.
Usage tips
- In figurative use, prophète often suggests accurate prediction, whereas visionnaire emphasizes imaginative foresight rather than prediction.
Opposites
- charlatancharlatannoun
Related words
- prophétieprophecynoun
- prophétiquepropheticadjective