French Conversation · Level 90
58 words
French word
réflexe
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁeflɛks/
Meaning
- masculine nounreflex
Example
On frappe le genou et le réflexe apparaît.
Tapping the knee brings out the reflex.
More examples
En voyant l'enfant tomber, elle a eu le réflexe de le rattraper.
Seeing the child fall, she had the reflex to catch him.
Core concept
A protective reaction that the body produces on its own after a stimulus.
Common phrases
avoir le réflexe de
have the reflex to ___
réflexe de sursaut
startle reflex
réflexe de survie
survival reflex
Similar words
réaction: An immediate movement or behavior triggered by an outside stimulus or event.
réponse: Words or actions given in response to a question or action.
réactivité: The quality or ability to respond quickly to situations or stimuli.
instinct: An innate tendency to act without conscious thought.
Definition in French
Réaction involontaire et rapide du corps, souvent protectrice, qui survient automatiquement après un stimulus.
Word origin
Latin reflexus gave French réflexe through scientific terminology, with the idea of something turned back developing into a body's response to stimulation.
Usage tips
- In avoir de bons réflexes, the plural refers to quick reactions or good reaction speed rather than to one medical reflex.