la
/fam/
Translation
woman, wife
Word origin
From Latin femina ('woman'). English 'feminine' and 'female' derive from the same root.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- femina
- English cognates
- feminine, female, effeminate
Grammar
Examples
dirige .
This woman has been running a large company for ten years.
collègues '.
He introduced his wife to his colleagues at the end-of-year party.
France 1944.
Women's rights have changed greatly in France since 1944.
.
My wife is preparing dinner while I tidy the kitchen.
' racheté l' .
An American businesswoman bought my father's company.
Femme signifie à la fois woman et wife selon le contexte : une femme remarquable (a remarkable woman) vs ma femme (my wife). La prononciation est /fam/, avec le e muet et le double m qui ferme la syllabe. Le terme épouse est plus formel et juridique.
Femme au foyer (housewife, homemaker), femme de ménage (cleaning lady), femme politique (female politician) - femme de/au construit de nombreuses collocations professionnelles ou de rôle. Dans un contexte inclusif moderne, on tend à féminiser les titres : la directrice, l'autrice plutôt que la femme directeur.
Used in
Stories
(8)Pas la même chose
2 min read · Core 1000
Le bus manqué
3 min read · Core 1000
Le coup de téléphone
3 min read · Core 1000
Le nouveau docteur
3 min read · Core 1000
Le nouveau voisin
3 min read · Core 1000
Le premier jour de travail
3 min read · Core 1000
Le coffre du jardin
4 min read · Core 5000
Une rencontre au marché
4 min read · Core 1000
Grammar articles
(6)French Adjective Position: Default, BAGS, and the Meaning Shifts
French Advanced Grammar (C1-C2): The Constructions That Sound Native
French Demonstratives: ce, cet, cette, ces and the -ci / -là Distance Split
French Noun Gender: Why Every Noun Is Le or La, and the Endings That Give It Away
The French Present Participle and Gerund (le participe présent et le gérondif)
Passé Composé vs Imparfait: How to Choose Between the Two French Past Tenses
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 3.