French word

us

Pronunciation

IPA/ys/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncustom

Example

Il connaît les us du village.

He knows the customs of the village.

Illustration for us (custom)

More examples

Dans cette région, les us se transmettent de génération en génération.

In this region, customs are passed down from generation to generation.

Core concept

The established customs that shape how a social group conducts its traditional life.

Common phrases

  • les us et coutumes

    customs and traditions

  • les us locaux

    local customs

  • les us du pays

    the country's customs

Similar words

coutume: A traditional custom or social norm observed in a region or society.
habitude: A habitual pattern of behavior in a person or group.
pratique: A method or procedure used in actual practice.
rituel: A prescribed sequence of actions in a religious or ceremonial rite.

Definition in French

Désigne l'ensemble des usages traditionnels d'un groupe social, généralement évoqué au pluriel pour parler des pratiques collectives.

Word origin

French "us" derives from Latin usus, meaning use or custom, and reached modern French through historical Old French forms.

Usage tips

  • French "us" is pronounced like the vowel in "tu," not like the English pronoun "us".

Opposites

Word lists with this word