French–English dictionary

soigneusement

With care; attentively, circumspectly.

soigneux

Conscientious and painstaking; meticulous.

soin

Close attention; concern; responsibility.

soir

The time of the day between the approximate time of midwinter dusk and midnight (compare afternoon); the period after the end of regular office working hours.

soirée

The time of the day between the approximate time of midwinter dusk and midnight (compare afternoon); the period after the end of regular office working hours.

soirée pyjama

The act of spending the night as a guest in another's house, especially when the participants are children.

soit

Introduces the first of two (or occasionally more) options or possibilities, the second (or last) of which is introduced by “or”.

soit ... ou

Introduces the first of two (or occasionally more) options or possibilities, the second (or last) of which is introduced by “or”.

soit dit en passant

An incidental remark to a person next to one made discreetly but not in private, audible only to that person. (theatre) A brief comment by a character addressing the audience, unheard by other characters.

soixante

The cardinal number occurring after fifty-nine and before sixty-one, represented in Roman numerals as LX and in Arabic numerals as 60.

soixante-dix

The cardinal number occurring after sixty-nine and before seventy-one, represented in Roman numerals as LXX and in Arabic numerals as 70.

soixantenaire

Of or related to sixtysomethings.

soja

The edible seed of this plant.

sol

(uncountable) Soil.

sol franc

(geology) A type of soil; an earthy mixture of sand, silt and clay, with organic matter to which its fertility is chiefly due.

sol superficiel

(agriculture, horticulture) The upper layer of soil, typically most fertile and in which it is the easiest to start new plants.

solaire

(figurative) Beaming with vivacity and happiness.

Solayman

(Biblical character) In the Old Testament and Qur'an, a king of Israel famous for his wisdom; father of King Rehoboam and the son of King David.

soldat

A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

soldat de deuxième classe

A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

soldate

A member of a ground-based army, of any rank, but especially an enlisted member.

solde

A meal offered only at a certain time by a restaurant, not as a standing fixture of the menu; often, one of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price; also often a dish at a nondiscounted price that is seasonal or otherwise exciting or unusual.

solder

(transitive) To move (people) to (a land or territory), so as to colonize it; to cause (people) to take residence in (a place).

soldes

(retail) A sale of merchandise, especially at significantly reduced prices, usually in order to make room for new merchandise or updated versions of the same merchandise; sometimes as a closeout.

soldius

(historical) The weight of the Roman gold coin, 1/60 of a Roman pound under Diocletian or 1/72 lb. (about 4.5 grams) after Constantine.

sole

(fish) Solea solea, a flatfish of the family Soleidae; a true sole.

solécisme

(grammar) An error in the use of language.

Soleil

The star at the center of the Solar System (our solar system), which shines in our sky, represented in astronomy and astrology by ☉.

solennel

According to the required or usual ceremonies, formalities, or rituals; specifically (Christianity, obsolete) , to ceremonial laws in the Bible.

soliciter

(specifically, politics) To seek the support of (voters or a constituency) in a forthcoming election or poll through personal solicitation or public addresses.

solidarité

Fairness, impartiality, or justice as determined in light of "natural law" or "natural right".

solide

(possessional) Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust; fit for service.

solidement

(manner) In a secure manner; without fear or apprehension; without danger.

solidification

(countable, and, uncountable) The change in state of a substance from liquid to solid by cooling to a critically low temperature.

solidité

The state or quality of being solid.

soliloque

A speech or conversation to oneself, whether silent or aloud.

solipsisme

Self-absorption, an unawareness of the views or needs of others; self-centeredness; egoism.

soliste

A person who performs a solo.

solitaire

Unhappy due to feeling isolated from contact with other people.

solitaire de la Réunion

Ellipsis of Réunion solitaire (Raphus solitarius, now Threskiornis solitarius), an extinct bird formerly believed to be related to the dodo.

solitarisme

The state or quality of being solitary.

solitude

Aloneness; the state of being alone, solitary, or by oneself.

solive

A piece of timber or steel laid horizontally, or nearly so, to which the planks of the floor, or the laths or furring strips of a ceiling, are nailed.

sollicitation

the action or instance of soliciting; petition; proposal

sollicitude

Thoughtful and considerate attention.

solo

Alone, without another's immediate company.

solstice

One of the two points in the ecliptic at which the sun is furthest from the celestial equator. This corresponds to one of two days in the year when the day is either longest or shortest.

solution

A solution to a problem.

solution de continuité

A vacant space or time.

solution de repli

A backup plan or contingency strategy; an alternative which can be used if something goes wrong with the main plan; a recourse.

solution tampon

(chemistry) A solution used to stabilize the pH (acidity) of a liquid, such as by resisting a change in pH when an acid or alkali is added.

solutionner

To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.

solvable

(finance) Able to pay all debts as they become due, and having no more liabilities than assets.

solvant

A fluid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution.

somali

Of, from, or pertaining to Somalia, the Somali people or language.

Somalie

A country in East Africa, in the Horn of Africa. Official name: Federal Republic of Somalia. Capital and largest city: Mogadishu.

somalien

Of, from, or pertaining to Somalia, the Somali people or language.

Somalienne

(countable, collective) A citizen or resident from the country of Somalia. The term Somalian is sometimes used as an alternative to Somali to emphasize civic affiliations to the Republic of Somalia and de-emphasize ethnic affiliations. Using the term Somalian may be offensive to some Somalis as it is deemed nonstandard. Some Somali ethnonationalists do not consider all citizens of Somalia to be Somali. Some Somali separatists prefer terms such as Somalian or Somalilander in civic contexts over the ethnolinguistic connoted term Somali.

sombre

(of colour) Dull or deeper in hue; not bright or light.

sombrement

With a dark appearance.

sombrer

(transitive, archaic, nautical) To cause to flood and sink, as a ship.

sombréro

A kind of hat with a high conical or cylindrical crown and a saucer-shaped brim, highly embroidered, made of plush felt.

sombreur

(uncountable) The state of being dark; lack of light; the absolute or comparative absence of light.

sommaire

Performed in a careless or indifferent manner as a thing of rote.

sommairement

In a fundamental, essential or basic manner.

somme

The total, aggregate or sum of material (not applicable to discrete numbers or units or items in standard English).

somme forfaitaire

A relatively large single payment of money often paid and received instead of, or in addition to, a sequence of smaller payments.

sommeil

(uncountable) Rheum, crusty or gummy discharge found in the corner of the eyes after waking, whether real or a figurative objectification of sleep (in the sense of reduced consciousness).

sommelier

A manservant having charge of wines and liquors.

sommelière

The member of staff at a restaurant who keeps the wine cellar and advises the guests on a choice of wines; a wine steward / stewardess, a wine waiter / waitress / server.

sommer

(dated, _, except in, _, accounting) To add up (a column of figures, accounts etc.); cross-cast refers to adding up a row of figures. [from 14th c.]

sommet

The highest or the greatest part of something, especially forming a point.

sommier

A springy surface that supports the mattress of a bed.

sommité

An exceptionally talented or famous person, often in a specific field; a celebrity.

somnambule

A person who walks about in their sleep; a sleepwalker.

somnambulisme

The act of walking while not conscious or aware of it, during one's sleep.

somnifère

(pharmaceutical drug) A pill or tablet having a soporific effect.

somnolence

An act, or a state, of being drowsy or sleepy.

somnolent

Quite sleepy or tired.

somnoler

(intransitive) To sleep lightly or briefly; to nap, snooze.

somptueux

Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; prodigal.

son

The broken coat of the seed of wheat, rye, or other cereal grain, separated from the flour or meal by sifting or bolting; the coarse, chaffy part of ground grain.

sonar

(nautical, countable) A device that provides such echolocation.

sonate

(music) A musical composition for one or a few instruments, one of which is frequently a piano, in three or four movements that vary in key and tempo.

sondage

(in extended senses of the above) A mass of people, a mob or muster, considered as a head count.

sonde

Any of various hand tools, with sharp points, used in dentistry.

sonder

(nautical) To heave the lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water.

songe

(countable) Imaginary events seen in the mind while sleeping.

songer

(intransitive) To think about something seriously or carefully: to deliberate.

songeur

Absorbed in thought; contemplative

Sonia

A en given name.

sonique

Of or relating to sound.

sonner

(colloquial) A telephone call.

sonner le glas

(ergative) To ring (a bell) slowly and repeatedly.

sonnerie

The sounding of a bell as a signal.

sonnerie de téléphone

The sound made by a telephone when ringing.

sonnet

A fixed verse form of Italian origin consisting of fourteen lines that are typically five-foot iambics and rhyme according to one of a few prescribed schemes.

sonnette

An instrument that emits a ringing sound, situated on a bicycle's handlebar and used by the cyclist to warn of their presence.

sonore

Of or relating to sound.

sonorisation

(phonology) A phonological process that turns a voiceless sound into a voiced one.

Sony

(trademark) An international electronics and media company based in Tokyo, Japan.

Sophie

A en given name.

sophisme

(logic) An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not; a specious argument.

sophistiqué

Marked by or possessing a high degree of sophistication; cultured, refined.

soporifique

Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring.

sora

An Austroasiatic language spoken in eastern India.

sorâtre

The daughter of one's stepparent by a previous relationship.

sorbet

A frozen dessert made of fruit juice, water and sugar.

sorbet laitier

A dessert of frozen fruit juice with a dairy product such as milk added; a sorbet with dairy ingredients.

sorbier

Any of various small deciduous trees or shrubs of genus Sorbus, belonging to the rose family, with pinnate leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and usually with orange-red berries.

sorbier des oiseleurs

Sorbus aucuparia, the European rowan.

Sorbonne

A building in Paris that houses several universities and schools.

sorcellerie

Magical power; the use of witchcraft or magic arts.

sorcier

A Native American shamanistic healer.

sorcière

An ugly, evil-looking, or frightening old woman; a hag.

sordide

Extremely dirty and unpleasant.

sorgho

A cereal, Sorghum genus and species, the grains of which are cultivated to make flour and feed cattle. Almost all cultivated ones as well as some wild ones belong to the species Sorghum bicolor (syn. Sorghum vulgare).

sorgo

A cereal, Sorghum genus and species, the grains of which are cultivated to make flour and feed cattle. Almost all cultivated ones as well as some wild ones belong to the species Sorghum bicolor (syn. Sorghum vulgare).

sornette

(uncountable) Empty or silly idle talk or writing; nonsense, rubbish. [from 1782.]

sororal

Of or characteristic of sisters.

sororel

Of or characteristic of sisters.

sororité

The quality of being sisterly; sisterly companionship; especially, the sense that women have of being in solidarity with one another.

Sorrente

A town and comune of the province of Naples, Campania, Italy.

sort

The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.

sortant

(not comparable) Being replaced in office (while still in office but after election has determined that he/she will be replaced).

sorte

(type theory) The type of a type constructor or a higher-order type operator.

sorti

Released, available for purchase, download or other use.

sorti du placard

(LGBT) Openly acknowledging that one is LGBT+ (gay, trans, etc).

sortie

The process of exiting or leaving.

sortie de bain

A robe usually made of terrycloth intended to be worn when one is still damp from bathing or when there is no immediate need to dress fully.

sortilège

An evil spell or curse.

sortir

(transitive) To hold while moving it out.

sortir avec

(intransitive, colloquial) To go to the toilet; to urinate or defecate.

sortir de l'œuf

(intransitive, of young animals) To emerge from an egg.

sortir de nulle part

(informal) Being (part of) a varied, unrelated, and apparently arbitrary collection of things; diverse, heterogeneous.

sortir de ses gonds

(colloquial, idiomatic) To become very angry or enraged; to throw a fit or go crazy.

sortir du placard

(intransitive, idiomatic, LGBTQ) To disclose to others about one's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity, where previously this had been kept secret.

SOS

An international distress signal used by shipping and aircraft.

sosie

A remarkably similar double.

sot

Dull in understanding; slow of discernment; opposed to acute.

sot-l’y-laisse

The delicate oyster-shaped morsel of dark meat contained in a small cavity of the bone on each side of the lower part of the back of a fowl.

sottise

Foolishness that results from a lack of foresight or lack of practicality.

sou

(money) A subunit of currency equal to one-hundredth of the main unit of currency in many countries. Symbol: ¢.

sou noir

(money) A coin having face value of one cent (in either of the above senses).

souahéli

An agglutinative language of the Bantu branch widely spoken in East Africa. Born in its modern form from the hybridization of the Arabic and Bantu cultures, it was the language of the traders in East Africa, and spread along the routes of trade.

soubassement

(countable, uncountable, geology, mining, engineering, construction) The solid rock found at some depth below the ground surface.

soubresaut

A sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially of the human body.

souche

(UK, historical) The longest part of a split tally stick formerly struck in the exchequer, which was delivered to the person who had lent the king money on account, as the evidence of indebtedness.

souci

Close attention; concern; responsibility.

soucier

(transitive, intransitive) To be concerned (about), to have an interest (in); to feel concern (about).