centre
/sɑ̃tʁ/
The English phrase 'centre' is translated into French as centre.
The word centre refers to the middle point or part of something. It is used in compound nouns to specify certain types of locations, such as centre-ville for a town or city centre or centre commercial for a shopping centre or mall.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun centre is masculine and is used with the definite article le (le centre).
How do you pronounce it?
/sɑ̃tʁ/
Did you know?
- The word centre shares a surprising ancestry with the English word 'center' through the Greek word κέντρον, which originally meant a 'sharp point' rather than a middle location.
- In French football, the verb centrer describes the specific action of crossing the ball from the wing into the centre of the penalty area.
- While centre is common for towns, French speakers typically use milieu when referring to the middle of a road or a street.
Examples in context
- C'est dans le centre-ville.It's in the town centre.This sentence is useful for locating something within the centre of a town.Tatoeba #10714736 by lbdx, translation #10534831 by sundown
- On va vers le centre-ville ?Are we going towards the city centre?This sentence is useful for asking about direction toward the centre of a town.Tatoeba #1083134 by nimfeo, translation #4877629 by jshholland
- Où est le centre commercial ?Where's the shopping centre?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of a centre commercial.Tatoeba #644377 by nimfeo, translation #11966053 by sundown
- Le centre-villeThe city center
- Un centre commercialA shopping center
- Le centre de rechercheThe research center
- Le noyau durThe core group
- Au cœur de la villeIn the heart of the city
- Le cœur du problèmeThe heart of the problem
- Ces centres d'intérêtThese areas of interest
- Le centre sportifThe sports center
- La base de données centraleThe central database
- 75 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are arranging furniture in their new living room.
- HugoEmma, peux-tu poser ce tapis au centre de la pièce ?Emma, can you place this rug in the centre of the room?
- EmmaOui, Hugo, je vais le mettre là.Yes, Hugo, I will put it there.
- HugoC'est parfait ainsi.It is perfect like that.
- EmmaD'accord, la pièce est beaucoup plus jolie.Okay, the room is much prettier.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry centre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries centre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
