hexagone
/ɛɡ.za.ɡɔn/masculine
The English word hexagon is translated into French as hexagone.
A hexagone is a polygon with six sides and six angles.
Meaning: A polygon with six sides and six angles (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While hexagone is a standard geometric term, the capitalized version l'Hexagone is used in both formal and colloquial contexts as a metonym for mainland France.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɛɡ.za.ɡɔn/. The word has 3 syllables.
When do people say it?
Because of its approximate geographic shape, the term l'Hexagone is frequently used as a synonym for France itself.
Did you know?
- Although l'Hexagone is used for France, it refers specifically to the mainland and excludes Corsica, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
- In French political discourse, l'Hexagone is often used as a shorthand to distinguish domestic internal policy from foreign relations.
- The word hexagone comes from the Latin hexagōnum, which was derived from the Ancient Greek word for 'hexagonal'.
Examples in context
- Un hexagone a six côtés.An hexagon has six sides.This sentence is useful for stating the geometric properties of an hexagone.Tatoeba #786674 by U2FS, translation #786670 by kekette
- La France a la forme d'un hexagone.France is shaped like a hexagon.This sentence describes the shape of France using hexagone.Tatoeba #10577658 by lbdx, translation #10780657 by ddnktr
- La France ressemble à un hexagone.France looks like a hexagon.This sentence is useful for saying that France resembles an hexagone.Tatoeba #8636996 by Rafik, translation #10780654 by ddnktr
- Le terrain de jeu a la forme d'un hexagone.The playground has the shape of a hexagon.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are looking at a geometry book in a classroom.
- LéaRegarde cet hexagone sur la page.Look at this hexagon on the page.
- LucasIl est dessiné avec des traits bleus.It is drawn with blue lines.
- LéaEst-ce un hexagone régulier ?Is it a regular hexagon?
- LucasOui, tous ses côtés sont égaux.Yes, all its sides are equal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hexagon” translations and entries hexagone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hexagone, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
