rendez-vous
/ʁɑ̃.de.vu/
The English phrase 'rendezvous' is translated into French as rendez-vous.
In French, rendez-vous is the standard word for any scheduled appointment, such as with a doctor, a client or a friend, not just a romantic encounter.
Meaning: a place appointed for a meeting (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine, so it is preceded by the masculine article un.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁɑ̃.de.vu/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 'rendezvous' as a verb in French, but in French, it is primarily used as a noun. To express the action, one would use verbs like se retrouver or avoir rendez-vous.
Did you know?
- In France, arriving exactly on time for a rendez-vous with a friend can be seen as too eager. It is often socially acceptable to arrive ten to fifteen minutes late, a concept known as le quart d'heure de politesse.
- The noun rendez-vous is actually a hidden command. It is the imperative form of the verb se rendre, which translates literally to 'present yourselves' or 'go to' a place.
- While rendez-vous refers to a scheduled meeting, French uses the word rencontre for a chance or unplanned meeting between two people.
Examples in context
- J'ai rendez-vous avec mon oncle demain.I have a rendezvous with my uncle tomorrow.This sentence shows how to use rendez-vous to indicate a meeting with someone.Tatoeba #135339 by Aiji, translation #1157937 by danepo
- Tom a acheté, pour son rendez-vous, une fleur et des cadeaux.Tom bought, for his rendezvous, a flower and some gifts.This sentence shows the use of rendez-vous in the context of preparations for a meeting.Tatoeba #1598909 by martin9, translation #6776752 by Eccles17
- Nous devons organiser une rencontre pour discuter du projet.We need to schedule a meeting to discuss the project.
- J'ai un entretien d'embauche demain après-midi.I have a job interview tomorrow afternoon.
- On se voit demain matin pour le RDV chez le médecin ?Shall we meet tomorrow morning for the appointment with the doctor?
- On se voit au café cet après-midi ?Shall we meet at the café this afternoon?
- On se fait un RDV pour prendre un café ?Want to meet up for a coffee?
- Le café est notre rendez-vous habituel.The cafe is our usual meeting place.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are deciding where to meet.
- HugoOù est notre rendez-vous ce soir ?Where is our meeting place tonight?
- LéaOn se retrouve devant le cinéma.We'll meet in front of the cinema.
- HugoC'est parfait pour moi, Léa.That is perfect for me, Léa.
- LéaÀ tout à l'heure, Hugo !See you later, Hugo!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rendez-vous, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rendez-vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
