French word

soustraction

Pronunciation

IPA/sustʁaksjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsubtraction

Example

Peux-tu m'aider avec cette soustraction ?

Can you help me with this subtraction?

Illustration for soustraction (subtraction)

More examples

Je n'arrive pas à effectuer cette soustraction.

I can't do this subtraction.

Core concept

A balance decreases by a stated amount, and the gap between the two quantities becomes visible.

Common phrases

  • demander de l'aide pour une soustraction

    ask for help with a subtraction

  • effectuer une soustraction

    perform a subtraction

Similar words

différence: The value left after one quantity is subtracted from another.
résultat: A value or outcome produced by a calculation or event.

Definition in French

Désigne l'action d'enlever une quantité à une autre pour obtenir la différence, terme employé en arithmétique et en comptabilité.

Word origin

French inherited soustraction from Old French, which received it from Latin subtractio, the noun related to subtrahere, "to draw away."

Usage tips

  • The phrase se soustraire à means "to evade" or "to escape," so it differs from the calculation sense of soustraction.

Other meanings

  • deductionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word