French word

rencontre

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁɑ̃kɔ̃tʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmeeting

Example

J'ai eu une rencontre avec un ancien professeur hier.

I had a meeting with a former professor yesterday.

Illustration for rencontre (meeting)

More examples

C'était une rencontre fortuite au marché.

It was a chance encounter at the market.

Core concept

People or teams arrive opposite one another in a single event that may be casual, planned, or competitive.

Common phrases

  • faire une rencontre

    have an encounter

  • première rencontre

    first meeting

  • rencontre amoureuse

    romantic encounter

Similar words

rendez-vous: A prearranged meeting at an agreed time and place.
rendez-vous amoureux: A romantic meeting arranged as a date.
réunion: A discussion meeting involving several members of a group or organization.

Definition in French

Action de se trouver face à face avec quelqu'un, souvent par hasard ou pour la première fois.

Word origin

Rencontre developed from the verb rencontrer, whose Old French form encontrer combined en- with contre to express coming against or face to face.

Usage tips

  • Faire une rencontre often frames meeting a person as a notable event and can suggest a romantic meeting in personal contexts.

Other meanings

  • matchnoun
  • encounternoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word