trisomie 21
/tʁi.zɔ.mi vɛ̃.t‿e.œ̃/feminine
Down syndrome in French is said as trisomie 21 or syndrome de Down.
Meaning: genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| trisomie 21 | /tʁi.zɔ.mi vɛ̃.t‿e.œ̃/ | feminine |
| syndrome de Down | /sɛ̃.dʁom də da.ɔn/ | masculine |
The term refers to the genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess.
What does it mean word for word?
trisomie 21 literally means 'trisomy 21', which refers to the presence of three copies of the 21st chromosome.
Which one should you use?
While syndrome de Down is a direct translation of the English term, trisomie 21 is the more common and standard term used in French medical and everyday contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
trisomie 21 is a feminine noun and is typically preceded by the feminine article la. In contrast, syndrome de Down is a masculine noun and is typically preceded by the masculine article le.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʁi.zɔ.mi vɛ̃.t‿e.œ̃/
Did you know?
- The word syndrome used in syndrome de Down shares a common ancestor with the English 'syndrome', both tracing back to the Greek 'sundromḗ', meaning 'running together'.
- While 'Down' is a proper name in English, the French term trisomie 21 avoids using a person's name entirely, shifting the focus from the individual who discovered the condition to the biological mechanism itself.
- While English speakers use 'Down syndrome' in most settings, French speakers overwhelmingly prefer trisomie 21 in both medical and casual conversation.
Examples in context
- Le syndrome de Down est une condition génétique qui affecte le développement physique et mental d'une personne.Down Syndrome is a genetic condition that affects the physical and intellectual development of an individual.
- La trisomie 21 est la cause principale du syndrome de Down.Trisomy 21 is the main cause of Down Syndrome.
- Il est né avec une trisomie 21.He was born with Down syndrome.
- La trisomie 21 est une condition génétique.Down syndrome is a genetic condition.
- Elle a une trisomie 21 très légère.She has a very mild form of Down syndrome.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are discussing a medical diagnosis at a clinic.
- EmmaEst-ce que c'est une trisomie 21 ?Is it Down syndrome?
- HugoOui, le médecin a confirmé le diagnostic.Yes, the doctor confirmed the diagnosis.
- EmmaJe comprends, merci pour l'explication.I understand, thank you for the explanation.
- HugoDe rien, je suis là pour t'aider.You're welcome, I am here to help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “down syndrome” translations and entries trisomie 21, syndrome de Down, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, syndrome, trisomie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
