globe
/ɡlɔb/masculine
The French word for globe is globe.
A globe can refer to a physical model of the Earth, but it can also refer to any spherical object, such as a glass light fixture or a decorative ornament.
Meaning: model of Earth (noun)
Which one should you use?
While le globe refers to the physical object or the concept of a sphere, la Terre is the specific proper noun used when referring to the planet Earth as a celestial body.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡlɔb/
Did you know?
- The word globe is used in French anatomy to describe the eyeball, referred to as le globe oculaire.
- French writers sometimes use le globe as a poetic synonym for the entire human population or the inhabited world, rather than just the physical object.
- The word globe is inherited from Middle French and originally borrowed from the Latin globus.
Examples in context
- L'équateur partage le globe en deux hémisphères.The equator divides the globe into two hemispheres.This sentence is useful for seeing how globe is used to describe the equator dividing the world.Tatoeba #11575466 by lbdx, translation #272449 by CK
- Une ampoule est un globe en verre qui fait de la lumière grâce à l'électricité.A light bulb is a glass globe that produces light using electricity.This sentence shows how globe can describe a spherical glass light bulb.Tatoeba #12188415 by carlosalberto, translation #12188416 by carlosalberto
- Un globe de verrea glass globe
- Le petit globe est sur le bureau.The small globe is on the desk.
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are in a geography classroom.
- ChloéRegarde ce globe, il est très détaillé.Look at this globe, it is very detailed.
- NathanOui, on peut voir toutes les villes.Yes, we can see all the cities.
- ChloéEst-ce que Nathan sait où est le Canada ?Does Nathan know where Canada is?
- NathanJe le trouve tout de suite sur le globe.I will find it on the globe right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “globe” translations and entries globe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries globe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
