strophe
/stʁɔf/feminine
The English word 'stanza' is translated into French as strophe or stance.
Meaning: a unit of a poem (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| strophe | /stʁɔf/ | feminine |
| stance | feminine |
Which one should you use?
strophe is the technical term for a unit of a poem. However, it is also used in music and in classical Greek drama to refer to specific structural sections.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of strophe is strophes.
How do you pronounce it?
/stʁɔf/
Did you know?
- In the context of ancient Greek drama, a strophe specifically refers to the part of a choral ode where the chorus moves across the stage in one direction.
- The French term stance is a cognate of the English 'stance', but it is a highly specialized term used for poetry rather than a way to describe a physical posture.
- French poetry often categorizes strophes by specific names, such as the quatrain for four lines or the tercet for three, which are used more frequently than the general word strophe.
Examples in context
- La poésie française est souvent structurée en plusieurs strophesFrench poetry is often structured in several stanzas
- Dans cette oeuvre, chaque strophe représente une étape de sa réflexion.In this work, each stanza represents a stage of his reflection.
- La strophe est l'unité fondamentale de la poésie, lui permettant de respirer au rythme de l'âme.The stanza is the fundamental unit of poetry, allowing it to breathe to the rhythm of the soul.
- La première strophe est très courte.The first stanza is very short.
- Chaque strophe de ce poème rime.Every stanza of this poem rhymes.
- Je n'ai pas compris cette strophe.I did not understand this stanza.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are studying literature in a library.
- HugoManon, quelle strophe préfères-tu ?Manon, which stanza do you prefer?
- ManonJ'aime beaucoup la deuxième strophe.I really like the second stanza.
- HugoElle est vraiment très belle.It is truly very beautiful.
- ManonOui, elle est très poétique.Yes, it is very poetic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stanza” translations and entries strophe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
