French word

routine

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁutin/

Meaning

  • feminine nounroutine

Example

Ma routine du matin commence par un café.

My morning routine starts with a coffee.

Illustration for routine (routine)

More examples

Pour être plus productif, il a établi une routine du soir.

To be more productive, he established an evening routine.

Core concept

A well-worn sequence of steps performed in the same order, often without deliberate thought.

Common phrases

  • établir une routine

    establish a routine

  • une routine quotidienne

    a daily routine

  • changer de routine

    change one's routine

Similar words

habitude: A behavior or tendency acquired through frequent repetition in daily life.
rituel: A repeated act performed through an established procedure with meaning or formality.
automatisme: An action or reaction that occurs naturally without conscious thought.

Definition in French

Manière régulière et organisée d'exécuter des tâches, souvent automatique ou ritualisée.

Word origin

Routine comes from French route, meaning road, combined with the suffix -ine, and its sense broadened from a regular course to habitual activity.

Usage tips

  • Tomber dans la routine usually suggests becoming stuck in repetitive behavior, while routine alone can be neutral or positive.

Other meanings

  • habitnoun
  • procedurenoun

Opposites

  • spontanéitéspontaneitynoun
  • improvisationimprovisationnoun

Related words

  • routinierroutineadjective
  • routinièrementroutinelyadverb

Word lists with this word