French word

renaissance

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁənɛsɑ̃s/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrevival

Example

Le quartier connaît une renaissance grâce aux nouveaux commerces.

The neighborhood is experiencing a revival thanks to the new businesses.

Illustration for renaissance (revival)

More examples

Après la crise, la région vit une renaissance culturelle.

After the crisis, the region is experiencing a cultural revival.

Core concept

A fading community, practice, or era regains its former spark and begins to flourish again.

Common phrases

  • la renaissance du quartier

    neighborhood revival

  • la renaissance urbaine

    urban revival

  • une renaissance commerciale

    commercial revival

Similar words

renouveau: Fresh energy or change emerging after stagnation or decline.
reprise: The restarting of something that had temporarily stopped.

Definition in French

Action de renaître ou de retrouver de la vitalité; reprise d'activité, d'intérêt ou de beauté pour une personne, un lieu, une pratique ou une période culturelle.

Word origin

The noun is formed from the verb renaître, "to be born again," which continues the Latin elements re- and nasci found in renascentia.

Usage tips

  • In French, la Renaissance with a capital R normally identifies the historical cultural period, while a lowercase noun refers to renewal more generally.

Other meanings

  • rebirthnoun
  • Renaissancenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word