réveillon de Noël
Christmas Eve in French is réveillon de Noël.
The term réveillon de Noël is the standard way to refer to the festivities and the meal eaten on the night of December 24th.
Meaning: day before Christmas Day (name)
Which one should you use?
While it is used to mean the event itself, réveillon de Noël specifically refers to the festive celebration or the feast held on Christmas Eve rather than just the calendar date.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, réveillon de Noël is the most common expression to refer to Christmas Eve.
Did you know?
- The word réveillon actually comes from the verb réveiller, which means 'to wake up'.
- In many French-speaking cultures, the réveillon is often more significant than the Christmas Day lunch itself.
- In France, the term réveillon is not exclusive to Christmas and is also used to describe the feast on New Year's Eve.
Examples in context
- Tom passera le réveillon de Noël en famille.Tom will spend Christmas Eve with his family.This sentence shows how to express spending the holiday with family using réveillon de Noël.Tatoeba #6891251 by GB3, translation #6891090 by CK
- Je passe le réveillon de Noël avec ma famille.I'm spending Christmas Eve with my family.This sentence demonstrates the present tense of spending the holiday with family using réveillon de Noël.Tatoeba #8362047 by Aiji, translation #2267234 by _undertoad
- Je vais passer le réveillon de Noël en famille.I'll be spending Christmas Eve with my family.This sentence uses the near future to describe spending the holiday with family using réveillon de Noël.Tatoeba #10597148 by lbdx, translation #8392324 by CK
- On célèbre le réveillon de Noël en famille.We celebrate Christmas Eve with family.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their holiday plans at a cafe.
- GabrielQu'est-ce que tu fais pour le réveillon de Noël ?What are you doing for Christmas Eve?
- ManonJe vais dîner chez mes parents.I am going to have dinner at my parents' house.
- GabrielC'est une excellente idée, Manon.That is an excellent idea, Manon.
- ManonEt toi, Gabriel, tu as des projets ?And you, Gabriel, do you have plans?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Noël, de, noël, réveillon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
