French word

tradition

Pronunciation

IPA/tʁadisjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nountradition

Example

C'est une tradition de donner des cadeaux à la fin de l'année.

It is a tradition to give gifts at the end of the year.

Illustration for tradition (tradition)

More examples

Il a rompu avec la tradition familiale en déménageant.

He broke with the family tradition by moving.

Core concept

A practice carried from elders to younger members and kept alive in family or community life.

Common phrases

  • respecter la tradition

    respect the tradition

  • une tradition religieuse

    a religious tradition

  • les traditions locales

    the local traditions

Similar words

coutume: A shared social or local practice followed in daily life or at events.
habitude: A repeated everyday behavior or personal pattern.
rite: A prescribed ceremonial procedure or action used in religion or at events.
héritage: Cultural wealth or influence inherited from the past.

Definition in French

Pratique ou croyance transmise de génération en génération au sein d'un groupe, souvent liée à des fêtes, des rites ou à la vie familiale.

Word origin

French tradition comes from Latin traditio, from tradere, meaning 'to hand over', which reflects something passed from one generation to the next.

Usage tips

  • Tradition is feminine, so the usual article is la, as in la tradition.

Other meanings

  • customnoun
  • practicenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word