obsidienne
/ɔp.si.djɛn/feminine
The English word obsidian is translated into French as obsidienne.
obsidienne is a noun used to refer to a type of black glass produced by volcanoes.
Meaning: a type of black glass produced by volcanoes (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
obsidienne is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /ɔp.si.djɛn/.
Did you know?
- French descriptions of obsidienne frequently emphasize its 'éclat' 'splendor' or 'shimmer', a term also used to describe military medals and diamonds.
- Unlike English, which uses 'obsidian' as an adjective frequently, French almost always uses obsidienne as a noun, requiring the phrase en obsidienne to describe an object's material.
- In French jewelry, an obsidienne piece is often marketed as a 'pierre de protection' 'protection stone', reflecting a cultural intersection of geology and mysticism.
Examples in context
- Je me suis procuré une magnifique obsidienne pour ma collection de pierres précieuses.I obtained a beautiful obsidian for my gemstone collection.
- L'artiste a utilisé des pointes d'obsidienne pour sculpter le magnifique vase.The artist used obsidian tips to sculpt the magnificent vase.
- Cette obsidienne est très brillante.This obsidian is very shiny.
- Il possède un pendentif en obsidienne.He has an obsidian pendant.
- L'obsidienne est une roche volcanique.Obsidian is a volcanic rock.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are looking at a collection of stones in a museum.
- LucasEst-ce que c'est de l'obsidienne ?Is this obsidian?
- ManonOui, cette obsidienne est magnifique.Yes, this obsidian is magnificent.
- LucasElle est vraiment très noire.It is truly very black.
- ManonC'est la beauté de la pierre.That is the beauty of the stone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “obsidian” translations and entries obsidienne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
