marque
/maʁk/feminine
The English word 'mark' can be translated into French as marque or signe.
Meaning: indication for reference or measurement (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| marque | /maʁk/ | feminine |
| signe | /siɲ/ | masculine |
Both words refer to an indication used for reference or measurement. Marque is the specific term used when you mean a commercial brand or trademark. You should use signe when referring to a mark that serves as a symbol, a sign or a physical indication of something.
Which one should you use?
Marque refers to a brand or trademark, whereas signe refers to a sign, symbol or physical indication.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine noun marque becomes marques in its plural form. The masculine noun signe becomes signes in its plural form. To express the action of making a mark, use the verb marquer.
How do you pronounce it?
/maʁk/
Did you know?
- The word marque shares an ancestor with the old currency known as the 'mark', reflecting a history where weights and money were stamped with identifying symbols.
- While signe is a general term, French uses the specific phrase faire un signe to mean 'to wave' or 'to signal' someone to come over.
- In French sports, the 'finish line' is called la ligne d'arrivée, but the act of 'marking' a goal or point uses the verb marquer.
Examples in context
- Que veut dire ce signe ?What does this mark mean?This sentence is useful for asking about the meaning of a specific signe.Tatoeba #559215 by sacredceltic, translation #60275 by CK
- Marquez la bonne réponse.Mark the correct answer.This sentence demonstrates the use of the verb form of marque as an instruction to mark an answer.Tatoeba #8613077 by Aiji, translation #5308019 by AlanF_US
- À vos marques, prêts, partez !On your mark, get set, go!This sentence shows the idiomatic use of marque in the phrase for starting a race.Tatoeba #13921 by sacredceltic, translation #2199654 by Hybrid
- Voici Mark, un collègue très talentueux.This is Mark, a very talented colleague.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are measuring a piece of wood for a DIY project.
- EmmaOù est la marque pour couper le bois ?Where is the mark for cutting the wood?
- GabrielElle est juste ici, près du bord.It is right here, near the edge.
- EmmaJe ne vois pas la marque, Gabriel.I don't see the mark, Gabriel.
- GabrielRegarde bien, j'ai fait une petite marque noire.Look closely, I made a small black mark.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mark” translations and entries marque, signe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries marque, signe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
