labyrinthe
/la.bi.ʁɛ̃t/masculine
The English word 'maze' is translated into French as labyrinthe. Wiktionary also lists dédale.
Meaning: puzzle to get through (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| labyrinthe | /la.bi.ʁɛ̃t/ | masculine |
| dédale | /de.dal/ | masculine |
Which one should you use?
labyrinthe is the standard word used for a physical maze. In contrast, dédale is a more literary or poetic term used to describe a complex or confusing situation or structure.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both labyrinthe and dédale are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/la.bi.ʁɛ̃t/
Did you know?
- In French, labyrinthe is often used in scientific contexts, such as describing the 'labyrinthe de l'oreille', which is the complex inner ear structure.
- The word dédale is actually a proper name in disguise, referring to the mythical craftsman Daedalus, who built the original Labyrinth for King Minos.
- The word dédale is often used as a metaphor for bureaucracy or complex legal systems in French political writing.
Examples in context
- Je me suis perdu dans le labyrinthe.I got lost in the maze.This sentence is useful for seeing how to express being lost in a labyrinthe.Tatoeba #12773418 by lbdx, translation #3733647 by CK
- Hier nous sommes allés dans un labyrinthe géant.Yesterday we went into a huge maze.This sentence shows the use of labyrinthe when describing a visit to a large maze.Tatoeba #459653 by sacredceltic, translation #244630 by Eldad
- Le garçon ne pouvait trouver son chemin hors du labyrinthe.The boy could not find his way out of the maze.This sentence illustrates how to describe the difficulty of finding a way out of a labyrinthe.Tatoeba #1060393 by sacredceltic, translation #268047 by CK
- La visite au labyrinthe était enrichissante.The visit to the maze was enriching.
- On s'est perdus dans ce dédale de ruelles étroites.We got lost in this maze of narrow streets.
- Les enfants s'amusent dans le p'tit labyrinthe du parc.The children are having fun in the little maze of the park.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are looking at a garden map.
- HugoRegarde ce grand labyrinthe de plantes.Look at this big plant maze.
- ManonIl semble très difficile à traverser.It looks very difficult to get through.
- HugoOn peut essayer de le faire ensemble.We can try to do it together.
- ManonD'accord, allons-y !Okay, let's go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maze” translations and entries labyrinthe, dédale, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dédale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
