French Conversation · Level 63
76 words
French word
serré
Pronunciation
IPA/sɛʁe/
Meaning
- adjectivetight
Example
La chemise est serrée, je ne peux pas lever les bras.
The shirt is tight, so I can't raise my arms.
More examples
La foule est serrée devant la scène.
The crowd is tightly packed in front of the stage.
Core concept
Several things held so near each other that the surrounding space feels compressed and movement becomes difficult.
Common phrases
foule serrée
tightly packed crowd
étreinte serrée
tight embrace
Similar words
étroit: Narrow from side to side, leaving little room to pass or move.
bondé: So crowded with people or things that there is almost no room to move.
moulant: Close-fitting and shaped to the body, with little extra room for movement.
plein: Completely filled with contents, leaving no empty space inside.
Definition in French
Qui occupe peu d'espace parce que plusieurs choses ou personnes sont très rapprochées, donnant une impression de densité.
Word origin
Serré developed from serrer, whose Old French form traces back to Latin serare, a verb for securing or closing with a bar.
Usage tips
- Serré can describe both a garment and a crowded arrangement, but a very crowded place is often more naturally described with bondé when the focus is fullness rather than spacing.
Other meanings
- narrowadjective
- denseadjective
Opposites
- amplelooseadjective
- détendurelaxedadjective
Related words
- desserrerloosenverb
- serrementtighteningnoun