rêverie
/ʁɛ.vʁi/feminine
The English phrase "reverie" is translated into French as rêverie.
rêverie is a noun used to describe a state of dreaming while awake. The related verb for the action of being in this state is rêvasser, which means to daydream.
Meaning: state of dreaming while awake (noun)
Which one should you use?
While the French word rêve can mean a dream (referring to something experienced while sleeping or a goal or ambition), rêverie specifically refers to the state of daydreaming while awake.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun rêverie is feminine, so it is used with the feminine article une (e.g., une rêverie).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of rêverie is /ʁɛ.vʁi/. It consists of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word rêverie originally had nothing to do with dreaming, but instead referred to 'revelry' or a noisy, boisterous party.
- In classical music, a rêverie is a specific genre of composition designed to evoke a dreamy or meditative mood, most famously exemplified by Claude Debussy.
- In French literature, particularly during the Romantic era, rêverie was viewed not just as distraction but as a necessary tool for artistic creation.
Examples in context
- À cet endroit de sa rêverie, le général fut interrompu par le bruit de la porte qui s’ouvrait.At this point in his reverie, the general was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.Tatoeba #3212550 by Scott, translation #3226198 by Scott
- Les étudiants se perdent souvent dans leurs rêveries pendant les cours.Students often get lost in their reveries during classes.
- Pendant les vacances d'été, je m'adonne souvent à la rêvasserie dans mon jardin.During summer holidays, I often indulge in reverie in my garden.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reverie” translations and entries rêverie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rêverie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
