cigarette
/si.ɡa.ʁɛt/feminine
The French word for "cigarette" is cigarette.
A cigarette refers to a thin roll of tobacco made for smoking.
Meaning: thin roll of tobacco made for smoking (noun)
Which one should you use?
While cigarette is the standard term, la clope is a common slang alternative used to refer to a cigarette.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because cigarette is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine indefinite article une (une cigarette) instead of the masculine un.
How do you pronounce it?
/si.ɡa.ʁɛt/
Did you know?
- In France, the act of smoking is often linked to the phrase la pause clope, which describes a specific social ritual of gathering with colleagues for a cigarette break.
- In French cinema, particularly in 'Nouvelle Vague' films, the constant presence of a cigarette was used as a visual shorthand for existentialism and intellectualism.
- The word cigarette is a 'loanword' that English took directly from French, meaning the English language adopted the French diminutive form rather than creating its own.
Examples in context
- Sami fuma une cigarette.Sami smoked a cigarette.This sentence shows how to use cigarette as the object of the verb smoke.Tatoeba #6460371 by GB3, translation #6459822 by OsoHombre
- Avez-vous une cigarette ?Do you have a cigarette?This sentence shows how to use cigarette when asking if someone has one.Tatoeba #12166943 by lbdx, translation #10570657 by felidad
- Il a demandé une cigarette.He asked for a cigarette.This sentence shows how to use cigarette when someone is asking for one.Tatoeba #4706499 by sacredceltic, translation #291667 by CK
- Tu as une clope en trop?Do you have an extra cigarette?
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are standing outside a restaurant.
- ChloéTu veux une cigarette, Nathan ?Do you want a cigarette, Nathan?
- NathanNon merci, j'ai arrêté de fumer.No thanks, I stopped smoking.
- ChloéC'est super ! Je vais finir ma cigarette.That's great! I'm going to finish my cigarette.
- NathanD'accord, on rentre quand tu as fini.Okay, we'll go back in when you're finished.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cigarette” translations and entries cigarette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
