un
/œ̃/
The English word 'a' is translated into French as un.
un is an indefinite article used before a singular noun to refer to a general person or thing.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English word 'a', the French indefinite article must match the grammatical gender of the noun it precedes. The feminine form is une.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form un changes to une when referring to a feminine noun. In spoken French, the 'n' in un is often elided and blended into the following word if it starts with a vowel, similar to how English uses 'an'.
How do you pronounce it?
/œ̃/
Did you know?
- The French un shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'one', as both eventually trace back to the Proto-Indo-European word *h₁óynos.
- In French, the word un serves as both the indefinite article 'a' and the number 'one'. Because of this, French speakers use un in many places where English speakers would use 'one' to emphasize a single quantity.
- The word un is the root for many French prefixes and words denoting unity, such as unique or unisson, mirroring how 'one' functions in English.
Examples in context
- As-tu un GSM ?Do you have a cellphone?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a un GSM.Tatoeba #541800 by sacredceltic, translation #535419 by CM
- Il y a un hic.There's a snag.This sentence is useful for stating there is a un hic.Tatoeba #1266925 by Sibelius, translation #1349953 by sacredceltic
- As-tu un reçu ?Have you a receipt?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a un reçu.Tatoeba #397450 by sysko, translation #397449 by sysko
- 14838 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are in a cafe.
- EmmaJe voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.I would like a coffee, please.
- GabrielBien sûr, Emma. Un café noir ?Of course, Emma. A black coffee?
- EmmaOui, et je vais prendre un croissant.Yes, and I will have a croissant.
- GabrielC'est noté, Gabriel s'en occupe.Noted, Gabriel will take care of it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry un, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
