pointe
/pwɛ̃t/
The French word for spike is pointe.
pointe refers to anything resembling such a nail in shape. It is more commonly used to refer to the general 'tip' or 'point' of an object rather than a standalone metal nail.
Meaning: anything resembling such a nail in shape (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Quebec dialect, rafale is an informal term used to describe a spike or sudden increase, often referring to a burst or gust.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pointe is pointes.
How do you pronounce it?
/pwɛ̃t/
Did you know?
- The phrase à la pointe is used to describe something that is at the cutting edge of technology or fashion.
- French speakers use pointe to describe the peak hour of traffic or the busiest time of the day, called l'heure de pointe.
- The word pointe is used in ballet to describe the technique of dancing on the tips of the toes, and the specialized shoes themselves are called pointes.
Examples in context
- Il y a eu une pointe de ventes après la sortie du nouveau produit.There was a spike in sales after the release of the new product.
- Nous avons observé des pics d'activité durant la dernière semaine.We observed spikes in activity during the past week.
- Regarde cette courbe, il y a un pic d'intérêt pour cette série télévisée !Look at this graph, there's a spike of interest in this TV series!
- En voyant le final de ce film, j'ai eu un sursaut d'émotion intense.While watching the ending of this movie, I had a sudden spike of intense emotions.
- Le nombre de cas a connu une pointe soudaine après les vacances d'été.The number of cases experienced a sudden spike after the summer holidays.
- J'ai vu un pic d'engagement sur mes réseaux sociaux suite à la publication de cette vidéo.I noticed a spike in engagement on my social media platforms after posting that video.
- la pointe d'une flècheThe spike (tip) of an arrow
- La pointe de l'ancre est très aiguë.The point of the anchor is very sharp.
- Il y a une pointe sur ce chapeau.There is a spike on this hat.
- Fais attention à la pointe de ce stylo.Watch out for the point of this pen.
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are looking at a decorative metal sculpture in a shop.
- NathanRegarde cette pointe sur la sculpture.Look at this spike on the sculpture.
- EmmaElle est vraiment impressionnante.It is truly impressive.
- NathanEst-ce que c'est dangereux ?Is it dangerous?
- EmmaOui, la pointe semble très fine.Yes, the spike seems very thin.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pointe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
