Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dissertation | /di.sɛʁ.ta.sjɔ̃/ | feminine |
| essai | /e.sɛ/ /ɛ.sɛ/ |
masculine |
| rédaction | /ʁe.dak.sjɔ̃/ | feminine |
The term used for a written composition depends on the educational level and the specific nature of the writing. In a scholarly or university context, you might use dissertation or mémoire. For a general written piece or an attempt at a task, you can use essai. In primary and secondary school settings, the term rédaction is commonly used for writing assignments.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ significantly in their scope and context. Dissertation refers to a highly structured, formal academic essay or thesis. Rédaction is used to describe a writing exercise or a short composition typically assigned in a school setting. Essai can mean a written essay, but it also carries the meaning of an 'attempt' or 'trial' regarding a task.
How does it change in a sentence?
essai is a masculine noun, while rédaction and dissertation are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/di.sɛʁ.ta.sjɔ̃/ (4 syllables)
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use dissertation to mean a short essay. In French, however, it implies a much more rigorous and lengthy academic work.
Did you know?
- The word essai is an ancestor of the English word 'assay' used to test the purity of gold. Both come from the Latin word for 'weighing' to determine value.
- In sports, particularly rugby, the word essai is used to mean a 'try'. This uses the meaning of 'attempt' to describe the act of grounding the ball.
- In French, essai can be used to describe a trial period at a new job. An essai in this context is a test of a worker's skills rather than a written piece of paper.
Examples in context
- Cet essai traite d'un bagage.This essay is about a piece of luggage.This sentence shows how to describe the subject of an essai.Tatoeba #664709 by qdii, translation #58283 by voxbubnya
- Écris un essai sur « l'Amitié ».Write an essay on "Friendship".This sentence provides an instruction to write an essai on a specific topic.Tatoeba #746354 by Aiji, translation #73517 by CM
- Tom a écrit un essai en français.Tom wrote an essay in French.This sentence demonstrates using essai to describe something written in a specific language.Tatoeba #9159249 by Julien_PDC, translation #8381356 by CK
- J'ai passé trois mois à rédiger ma dissertation sur la littérature française.I spent three months writing my essay on French literature.
- Les étudiants doivent rendre leur rédaction la semaine prochaine.The students have to submit their essay next week.
- J'ai écrit un exposé intéressant sur la pollution environnementale.I wrote an interesting essay about environmental pollution.
- Mon essai sur les voyages m'a permis de partager mes expériences et mes conseils.My essay about travels allowed me to share my experiences and advice.
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are talking about their university homework.
- EmmaAs-tu terminé ta dissertation pour le cours d'histoire ?Have you finished your essay for the history class?
- GabrielPas encore, ma dissertation est beaucoup trop longue.Not yet, my essay is much too long.
- EmmaJe peux t'aider à corriger ta dissertation demain.I can help you correct your essay tomorrow.
- GabrielC'est très gentil, merci beaucoup Emma !That is very kind, thank you very much Emma!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “essay” translations and entries dissertation, essai, rédaction, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dissertation, essai, rédaction, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
