citation
/si.ta.sjɔ̃/feminine
In French, the English phrase "quote" (as a noun meaning a statement attributed to someone) is citation.
The word citation is used to refer to a specific statement or sentence attributed to a person. If you wish to perform the action of indicating the start of a quotation, you can use the phrase ouvrir les guillemets. Note that in different contexts, other words may be more appropriate: extrait refers to an extract from a larger work, passage refers to a segment of text and réplique is used specifically for a quote or line in the context of theater or cinema. Additionally, coter is a verb used when one needs to name a current price.
Meaning: a statement attributed to someone (noun)
Which one should you use?
While citation refers to a written or spoken statement from a person, do not use it when talking about an estimate of cost. For a price quote or estimate, use devis.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
citation is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/si.ta.sjɔ̃/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the English word "quote" as a noun in French. Instead, use une citation to refer to a statement attributed to someone.
When do people say it?
The punctuation marks used to enclose a quote are known as les guillemets.
Did you know?
- French quotation marks, called guillemets, are shaped like double angle brackets rather than the curved marks used in English.
- In traditional French typography, a non-breaking space is required inside guillemets to separate the punctuation from the text.
- A citation can refer to a military honor, such as a 'citation for bravery', where a soldier's deeds are officially quoted in a report.
Examples in context
- D'où vient cette citation ?Where is that quote from?This sentence is useful for asking about the source of a citation.Tatoeba #10518974 by lbdx, translation #10502477 by DJ_Saidez
- C'est une citation du livre.It's a quote from the book.This sentence shows how to identify a citation coming from a book.Tatoeba #6473211 by Aiji, translation #1428807 by Eldad
- Fin de citation. Répétez la ligne.End of quote. Repeat the line.This sentence demonstrates how to use citation when indicating the end of a quoted section.Tatoeba #10978480 by Aiji, translation #10974610 by nipbud
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are studying in the library.
- HugoQuelle belle citation !What a beautiful quote!
- EmmaC'est de Victor Hugo.It is by Victor Hugo.
- HugoJe vais copier cette citation.I am going to copy this quote.
- EmmaC'est une bonne idée, Hugo.That is a good idea, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quote” translations and entries citation, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
