French Conversation · Level 52
75 words
French word
spontané
Pronunciation
IPA/spɔ̃tane/
Meaning
- adjectivenatural
Example
Un sourire spontané illumine son visage.
A natural smile lights up her face.
More examples
La réaction spontanée du public a surpris l'orateur.
The audience's spontaneous reaction surprised the speaker.
Core concept
A natural response appearing freely rather than being planned or forced.
Common phrases
rire spontané
spontaneous laughter
réponse spontanée
spontaneous response
réaction spontanée
spontaneous reaction
Similar words
naturel: Uncontrived and free from affectation or artificial display.
sincère: Expressing genuine feelings without deceit or pretense.
franc: Open and direct in expressing opinions or feelings.
authentique: Genuine and not an imitation or false representation.
Definition in French
Qui vient d'une initiative intérieure, non imposée, et qui paraît naturel, non forcé.
Word origin
The French adjective was borrowed from Latin spontaneus, which derives from sponte, an ablative form meaning voluntarily or of one's own accord.
Usage tips
- With a person, il est spontané often describes an unpretentious and frank manner, not only an unplanned action.
Other meanings
- spontaneousadjective
Opposites
- planifiéplannedadjective
- prévuscheduledadjective
Related words
- spontanéitéspontaneitynoun
- spontanémentspontaneouslyadverb