French word

utopie

Pronunciation

IPA/ytopi/

Meaning

  • feminine nounutopia

Example

Cette ville ressemble à une utopie moderne.

This city resembles a modern utopia.

Illustration for utopie (utopia)

More examples

Beaucoup pensent que la politique actuelle est loin d'une utopie.

Many people think that current politics is far from a utopia.

Core concept

A shining social blueprint whose perfection makes it difficult to build in the real world.

Common phrases

  • une utopie moderne

    a modern utopia

  • rêver d'une utopie

    to dream of a utopia

Similar words

rêve: A dream or hope that does not exist in reality.
idéal: A nearly perfect state or standard worth striving for.
chimère: An idea or plan so impractical that it is almost pure fantasy.
illusion: A misleading appearance or mistaken belief that differs from reality.

Definition in French

Idée ou projet social présenté comme parfait mais souvent irréalisable.

Word origin

Thomas More coined Latin Utopia in the sixteenth century from Greek ou, "not", and topos, "place"; French later adopted it as utopie.

Usage tips

  • In modern French, utopie often suggests impracticality, whereas idéal can remain simply approving.

Opposites

Related words

  • utopiqueutopianadjective
  • utopismeutopianismnoun
  • utopisteutopiannoun

Word lists with this word