French word

propre

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁɔpʁ/

Meaning

  • adjectiveclean

Example

Mes mains sont propres.

My hands are clean.

Illustration for propre (clean)

More examples

Ses vêtements sont propres après la lessive.

Her clothes are clean after the wash.

Core concept

A thing in its proper condition: clean when describing its state, and specifically belonging to someone before a noun.

Common phrases

  • linge propre

    clean linen

  • maison propre

    clean home

  • voiture propre

    clean automobile

Similar words

sale: Dirty or stained, with an unclean appearance.
lavé: Cleaned by washing with water or detergent.
net: Uncluttered and pleasingly neat in appearance.

Definition in French

Qui n'est pas sale, qui a été lavé ou entretenu; placé avant un nom, peut indiquer que l'objet appartient à la personne mentionnée.

Word origin

French propre comes from Latin proprius through Old French, and French developed both the sense 'one's own' and the sense 'clean'.

Usage tips

  • With a possessive, ma propre maison means 'my own house', usually with emphasis, whereas ma maison simply means 'my house'.

Other meanings

  • ownadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word