French word

spectacle

Pronunciation

IPA/spɛktakl/

Meaning

  • masculine nounshow

Example

Il donne un spectacle ce soir au théâtre.

He is putting on a show at the theater tonight.

Illustration for spectacle (show)

More examples

Ils ont acheté des billets pour le spectacle hier.

They bought tickets for the show yesterday.

Core concept

A staged public event arranged for people to watch, such as a theater performance or a striking display.

Common phrases

  • acheter des billets pour un spectacle

    buy tickets for a show

  • créer un spectacle

    create a show

  • répéter le spectacle

    rehearse the show

Similar words

représentation: A single performance held in a theater or concert hall.
concert: A live musical performance by singers or instrumentalists for an audience.
pièce: A play performed by actors on stage.
show: An entertainment-focused stage or television production designed to impress.

Definition in French

Une manifestation artistique ou divertissante organisée pour être vue par un public, souvent programmée.

Word origin

French spectacle descends through Old French from Latin spectaculum, a public show derived from spectare, to watch.

Usage tips

  • The masculine noun takes the article un, as in un spectacle, and its final -e is silent in pronunciation.

Other meanings

  • sightnoun
  • spectaclenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word