French word

secrètement

Pronunciation

IPA/səkʁɛtəmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbsecretly

Example

Elle préparait secrètement une surprise.

She was secretly preparing a surprise.

Illustration for secrètement (secretly)

More examples

Ils se rencontraient secrètement la nuit.

They would meet secretly at night.

Core concept

A private plan or action carried out beyond other people's awareness.

Common phrases

  • cacher secrètement

    hide in secret

  • garder secrètement

    secretly keep

  • envoyer secrètement

    send in secret

Similar words

en cachette: Quietly and secretly, away from other people's view.
en secret: Without telling anyone else and keeping it confidential.
discrètement: In a modest, unobtrusive way that attracts little attention.
furtivement: In a secretive way intended to avoid detection.

Definition in French

D'une manière cachée, sans que les autres sachent ce qui se fait.

Word origin

The adverb secrètement is formed from the adjective secret and -ment, with secret inherited from Latin secretus, meaning hidden.

Usage tips

  • En cachette often suggests hiding during an action, whereas secrètement also describes confidential plans or information.

Opposites

Related words

  • secretsecretnoun
  • secrètesecretadjective

Word lists with this word