alopécie
/a.lɔ.pe.si/feminine
In French, the medical term for alopecia is alopécie.
Alopécie is a feminine noun used in a medical context to describe the loss of hair.
Meaning: medicine: loss of hair (noun)
Which one should you use?
While alopécie refers specifically to the medical condition of alopecia, the term calvitie is used to refer to the specific condition of baldness.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because alopécie starts with a vowel, the feminine definite article la elides to l’ (e.g., l’alopécie). As a feminine noun, it is used with the indefinite article une (e.g., une alopécie).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /a.lɔ.pe.si/. It has 4 syllables.
Did you know?
- The French word alopécie comes from the Ancient Greek word for 'fox-mange', as the condition was often associated with the patchy hair loss seen in foxes.
- In French, the word for a 'bald spot' is une plaque, which is the same word used for a commemorative brass plaque or a geological plate.
- The Greek root for fox is preserved in alopécie but is completely absent from the common French word for fox, renard, which actually comes from a character in a medieval fable.
Examples in context
- L'alopécie peut être causée par le stress.Alopecia can be caused by stress.
- Il souffre d'une forme d'alopécie.He suffers from a form of alopecia.
- Elle traite son alopécie avec des médicaments.She treats her alopecia with medication.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are discussing a medical topic at a pharmacy.
- ManonEst-ce que l'alopécie est très fréquente ?Is alopecia very common?
- NathanOui, de nombreuses personnes en souffrent.Yes, many people suffer from it.
- ManonMon frère a de l'alopécie aussi.My brother has alopecia too.
- NathanIl existe des traitements efficaces.There are effective treatments.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alopecia” translations and entries alopécie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alopécie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
