examen
/ɛɡ.za.mɛ̃/
The French word for exam is examen.
examen is a common and standard term used to describe a formal test of a person's knowledge or proficiency in a particular subject.
Which one should you use?
While examen refers to a formal, high-stakes exam, the term un contrôle is often used for smaller, routine classroom tests or quizzes. Other related terms include épreuve, which is a term for a test or examination often used in educational contexts and évaluation, which refers to an evaluation or assessment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun examen is masculine, as seen in the phrase un examen. Note that while examen is a noun, if you want to say you are taking an exam, you should use the collocation passer un examen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɛɡ.za.mɛ̃/ (3 syllables)
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use examen as a verb. In French, examen is only a noun. You must use a verb like passer to express the action of taking an exam.
Did you know?
- The phrase passer un examen does not mean you have passed the test. It simply means you are taking it, and you must use the verb réussir to say you actually passed.
- The Latin root of examen refers to the tongue of a balance scale used to weigh things, treating a test as a way of weighing a person's knowledge.
- In France, the high-stakes national exams are often referred to as le bac for short, referring to the baccalauréat.
Examples in context
- Il échoua à l'examen.He failed the exam.This sentence is useful for seeing how to say someone failed an examen.Tatoeba #835933 by sacredceltic, translation #263447 by CH
- J'ai un examen lundi.I have an exam on Monday.This sentence is useful for stating that you have an examen on a specific day.Tatoeba #6817718 by Rockaround, translation #3822353 by CK
- Tom a réussi l'examen.Tom passed the exam.This sentence is useful for showing how to say someone passed an examen.Tatoeba #3480154 by Lulantis, translation #3426390 by CK
- J'ai un examen de français demainI have a French exam tomorrow
- Les épreuves finales commencent la semaine prochaineThe final exams start next week
- Nous avons un contrôle de mathématiques aujourd'huiWe have a math exam today
- J'ai une interro de physique demainI have a physics quiz tomorrow
- J'ai un partiel de biologie la semaine prochaineI have a biology exam next week
- J'ai un examen oral la semaine prochaineI have an oral exam next week
- 291 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are talking at a library.
- LucasEst-ce que l'examen est difficile ?Is the exam difficult?
- ManonOui, il est très long.Yes, it is very long.
- LucasBonne chance pour ton examen, Manon.Good luck with your exam, Manon.
- ManonMerci, Lucas !Thanks, Lucas!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry examen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
