arbre
/aʁbʁ/
The French word arbre means tree.
arbre refers to a tall plant with a wooden trunk and branches. In more formal, scientific or technical contexts, the term essence is often used to refer specifically to a species or type of tree. The word can also be used metaphorically, as seen in the phrase arbre généalogique, which means family tree.
How does it change in a sentence?
arbre is a masculine noun. You use the indefinite article un to say un arbre (a tree). To form the plural, add an -s to the end of the word to get les arbres (the trees).
How do you pronounce it?
/aʁbʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, the word arbre is used to describe the axle of a car or a machine, known as an arbre de transmission.
- The French use the term arbre à palabres for a traditional community gathering tree in many African cultures used for storytelling and settling legal disputes.
- The Latin root of arbre, arbor, is the direct ancestor of the English word 'arboreal', which describes creatures that live in trees.
Examples in context
- Je me suis promené dans la forêt et j'ai vu un magnifique arbre centenaire.I took a walk in the forest, and I saw a magnificent hundred-year-old tree.
- Mon voisin a planté plusieurs arbres fruitiers dans son jardin.My neighbor planted several fruit trees in his garden.
- Il y a un grand arbre dans le jardin.There is a big tree in the garden.
- Cet arbre est très ancien.This tree is very old.
- Les oiseaux nichent dans l'arbre.The birds are nesting in the tree.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are walking in a park.
- NathanRegarde cet arbre magnifique, Chloé.Look at this magnificent tree, Chloé.
- ChloéOui, il est vraiment impressionnant.Yes, it is truly impressive.
- NathanOn peut s'asseoir sous l'arbre ?Can we sit under the tree?
- ChloéBonne idée, Nathan, il y a de l'ombre.Good idea, Nathan, there is shade.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry arbre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arbre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
