French word

vitesse

Pronunciation

IPA/vitɛs/

Meaning

  • feminine nounspeed

Example

Il faut réduire la vitesse.

The speed needs to be reduced.

Illustration for vitesse (speed)

More examples

Il a pris de la vitesse avant d'entrer sur l'autoroute.

He picked up speed before entering the highway.

Core concept

A measurable degree of rapid movement or performance, from a vehicle's travel to the pace of an action.

Common phrases

  • limiter la vitesse

    limit one's speed

  • prendre de la vitesse

    pick up speed

  • la vitesse maximale

    top speed

Similar words

rapidité: The speed at which an action is performed or a change occurs.
allure: The pace of walking or running.
rythme: The rate at which events or actions repeat.

Definition in French

Rapidité d'un objet, d'un véhicule ou d'une action, souvent exprimée en distance parcourue par unité de temps.

Word origin

The noun vitesse entered French through Old French viste from Latin velocitas, a noun associated with the adjective velox, meaning swift.

Usage tips

  • Vitesse is a noun, whereas vite is an adverb: a vehicle has a vitesse, but it moves vite.

Opposites

Word lists with this word