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
Cette .
This woman has been running a large company for ten years.
'.
He introduced his wife to his colleagues at the end-of-year party.
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.
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.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(9)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
Pas devant les clients
5 min read · Core 1000
Grammar articles
(10)French Adjective Position: Default, BAGS, and the Meaning Shifts
French Advanced Grammar (C1-C2): The Constructions That Sound Native
French Demonstrative Forms: Drilling ce, cet, cette, ces
French Demonstratives: ce, cet, cette, ces and the -ci / -là Distance Split
French Interrogatives: qui, que, où, quand, comment, pourquoi, combien, quel
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
laisser, voir and entendre + Infinitive in French
French Relative Pronouns After a Preposition: lequel, auquel, duquel
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femme: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "femme" (woman, wife): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 3.