banque
/bɑ̃k/feminine
The English word "bank" is translated into French as banque.
The word banque refers to a financial institution.
Meaning: institution (noun)
Which one should you use?
Be careful not to confuse banque with banc, which is a false friend meaning "bench".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, a credit union or a financial cooperative is commonly referred to as Caisse populaire.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɑ̃k/
Did you know?
- When a moneychanger in the early days of French commerce went bankrupt, his wooden banc was literally broken. This gave rise to the term banqueroute, which is the origin of the English word 'bankruptcy'.
- While 'bank' in English can mean a 'river bank', French uses an entirely different word, rive, to describe the land alongside a river.
- The word banque shares its ancestry with the English word 'bench', tracing back to the literal tables used by moneychangers in the Middle Ages.
Examples in context
- Je vais à la banque.I'm going to the bank.This sentence shows how to say you are going to the bank using banque.Tatoeba #6632 by TRANG, translation #256982 by CK
- Je suis à la banque.I'm at the bank.This sentence shows how to say you are at the bank using banque.Tatoeba #5149826 by nbrr, translation #2549518 by CK
- Nous sommes à la banque.We're at the bank.This sentence shows how to say we are at the bank using banque.Tatoeba #6631151 by Aiji, translation #3365629 by CK
- Je vais à la banque demain.I am going to the bank tomorrow.
- J'ai ouvert un compte auprès d'un établissement bancaire renommé.I have opened an account with a renowned bank.
- J'ai retiré de l'argent à la banque tout à l'heure.I withdrew money from the bank earlier.
- Tu as déjà vu ce nouveau service de la banque ?Have you seen this new bank service?
- 251 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are walking downtown together.
- NathanOù est la banque la plus proche ?Where is the nearest bank?
- LéaElle est juste après le coin.It is just around the corner.
- NathanEst-ce que cette banque est ouverte ?Is this bank open?
- LéaOui, Léa pense qu'elle est ouverte.Yes, Léa thinks it is open.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bank” translations and entries banque, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banque, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
