monastère
/mɔ.nas.tɛʁ/masculine
The French word for monastery is monastère.
monastère is a masculine noun used to describe a building where monks live.
Meaning: building for monks (noun)
Which one should you use?
While monastère is a general term for any monastery building, abbaye is a more specific term used to refer to a monastery that is under the leadership of an abbot or an abbess.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural, add an s to the end of the word: monastères.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /mɔ.nas.tɛʁ/.
Did you know?
- The Greek root of monastère is mónos, meaning 'alone', which refers to the hermit's cell rather than just the communal building.
- While monastère can be general, French speakers often use couvent specifically for a community of nuns, creating a gendered distinction in the choice of words.
- The famous Mont Saint-Michel is a prime example of a monastère built on a tidal island, where the sea physically isolates the community from the mainland.
Examples in context
- Le moine est dans le monastère.The monk is in the monastery.This sentence shows the position of a monk relative to the monastère.Tatoeba #10371402 by lbdx, translation #10101641 by ddnktr
- Ces moines vivent dans le monastère.These monks live inside the monastery.This sentence describes monks living inside a monastère.Tatoeba #7744801 by lbdx, translation #2334971 by Hybrid
- La reine mourut dans un monastère.The queen died in a monastery.This sentence describes a queen dying in a monastère.Tatoeba #13931958 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #13931957 by Ioan_Cristian
- J'ai visité un monastère traditionnel en Bourgogne.I visited a traditional monastery in Burgundy.
- Les nonnes vivent dans ce couvent depuis plus de cinquante ans.The nuns have been living in this convent for over fifty years.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are visiting an old village in the countryside.
- ChloéRegarde ce vieux monastère sur la colline.Look at that old monastery on the hill.
- LucasIl est magnifique, n'est-ce pas ?It is magnificent, isn't it?
- ChloéOui, Lucas. On peut entrer à l'intérieur ?Yes, Lucas. Can we go inside?
- LucasJe crois que le monastère est ouvert aux visiteurs.I believe the monastery is open to visitors.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monastery” translations and entries monastère, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries monastère, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
