French Conversation · Level 2
83 words
French word
silence
Pronunciation
IPA/silɑ̃s/
Meaning
- masculine nounsilence
Example
Un long silence s'installa après la nouvelle.
A long silence fell after the news.
More examples
Pour rompre la tension, elle brisa le silence.
To ease the tension, she broke the silence.
Core concept
A conversation and the surrounding sound fall completely still, leaving no words or noise.
Common phrases
briser le silence
break the silence
garder le silence
keep silent
un silence gênant
an awkward silence
Similar words
blanc: An awkward silence that appears when the flow of conversation suddenly breaks.
pause: A brief interruption creating a short gap in conversation or activity.
Definition in French
Absence de parole ou de bruit, état où les personnes ne parlent pas.
Word origin
Silence comes from Latin silentium, formed from silere, 'to be silent', and passed into French through Old French.
Usage tips
- Silence is masculine, so the standard article is le, as in le silence.
Other meanings
- quietnoun
- stillnessnoun
Opposites
- bruitnoisenoun
Related words
- silencieuxsilentadjective
- silencieusementsilentlyadverb