Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bataille | /ba.taj/ /ba.tɑj/ |
feminine |
| lutte | /lyt/ | feminine |
In French, these terms describe a fight, combat or general encounter. Use bataille to refer to a military engagement or a large-scale struggle. Use lutte when referring to a physical struggle, such as a wrestling match or a continuous, abstract effort.
Which one should you use?
bataille is typically used for large-scale military engagements or metaphorical struggles. In contrast, lutte is used for more physical or individual struggles, such as wrestling.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both bataille and lutte are feminine nouns, so they are preceded by feminine articles such as la or une. While bataille is a noun, if you want to express the action of fighting or battling, the common reflexive verb is se battre. The verb lutter can also be used to mean joining in a battle or contending in a fight.
How do you pronounce it?
The word bataille is pronounced /ba.taj/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- In a colloquial sense, the expression une bataille can be used to describe a chaotic or messy room, suggesting the space looks like a war zone.
- The word bataille shares a linguistic root with the English word 'battery'. Both come from the Latin battuō, meaning 'to beat'.
- The Romanian word luptă shares the same ancient root as the French lutte.
Examples in context
- Tu as perdu la bataille.You lost the battle.This sentence is useful for describing the loss of a bataille.Tatoeba #8427375 by Aiji, translation #8420109 by AlanF_US
- La bataille se poursuit !The battle goes on!This sentence shows how to describe a bataille that is continuing.Tatoeba #994716 by sacredceltic, translation #1725551 by belgavox
- Nous gagnerons la bataille.We will win the battle.This sentence is useful for expressing the intent to win a bataille.Tatoeba #918931 by sacredceltic, translation #918927 by Shiawase
- La bataille de WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo
- Les combats de la Première Guerre mondialeThe battles of World War I
- La bagarre entre les bandes rivalesThe battle between rival gangs
- La confrontation entre les deux candidatsThe battle between the two candidates
- Le choc entre les deux équipesThe battle between the two teams
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a historical movie.
- LucasLa bataille dans ce film est incroyable.The battle in this movie is incredible.
- ManonOui, c'est une bataille très intense.Yes, it is a very intense battle.
- LucasManon, as-tu aimé les effets spéciaux ?Manon, did you like the special effects?
- ManonLucas, ils sont vraiment impressionnants.Lucas, they are truly impressive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “battle” translations and entries bataille, lutte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bataille, lutte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
