cinéma
/si.ne.ma/masculine
The English word 'cinema' is translated into French as cinéma.
cinéma is a masculine noun that can refer to the physical movie theatre or the art of filmmaking and the film industry itself. Note that while cinéma refers to the venue, the word film is the standard term used for the actual movie being shown.
Meaning: a film/movie theatre (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium and Switzerland, you can use ciné to refer to cinema.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because cinéma is a masculine noun, the contraction of the preposition 'à' and the article 'le' results in 'au cinéma'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /si.ne.ma/ and consists of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In France, the phrase faire du cinéma is an idiom meaning to exaggerate, be melodramatic or put on an act to deceive someone.
- French speakers often distinguish between cinéma as an art form and le septième art meaning 'the seventh art', a term coined to elevate film to the status of painting and music.
- The word cinéma is a clipping of cinématographe, which was the brand name of the first motion picture camera and projector sold by the Lumière brothers.
Examples in context
- Je vais au cinéma.I'm going to the cinema.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are going to the cinema using cinéma.Tatoeba #5992174 by christian63, translation #1055075 by Eldad
- Le cinéma était vide.The cinema was empty.This sentence is useful for describing a cinema that was empty using cinéma.Tatoeba #7094598 by Micsmithel, translation #11960242 by sundown
- J'aime aller au cinéma.I adore going to the cinema.This sentence is useful for expressing that you love going to the cinema using cinéma.Tatoeba #135945 by Aiji, translation #26443 by sundown
- Le cinéma, une industrie culturelle majeure, est apparu à la fin du XIXe siècle.Cinema, a major cultural industry, emerged in the late 19th century.
- On va au ciné ce soir ?Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
- 129 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are deciding what to do for their evening.
- LéaOn va au cinéma ce soir ?Are we going to the cinema tonight?
- HugoOui, j'adore ce cinéma.Yes, I love this cinema.
- LéaQuel film est au cinéma ?Which film is playing at the cinema?
- HugoUn nouveau film d'action.A new action movie.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cinema” translations and entries cinéma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cinéma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
