stigmate
/stiɡ.mat/masculine
The English phrase 'stigma' is translated into French as stigmate.
In French, stigmate can refer to a social disgrace and a physical mark or scar.
Meaning: indication of infamy or disgrace (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of stigmate is stigmates.
How do you pronounce it?
/stiɡ.mat/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the word 'stigma' (the English spelling) instead of the French stigmate.
Did you know?
- In French, the word stigmate is used by botanists to describe the tiny, receptive part of a flower's pistil. This refers to a physical structure rather than a social disgrace.
- In French religious contexts, stigmates refers specifically to the miraculous appearance of the wounds of Christ on a person's body.
- The word stigmate is a learned borrowing from the Latin 'stigma', which originally came from the Ancient Greek word for a mark or brand.
Examples in context
- Le stigmate social est difficile à surmonter.The social stigma is difficult to overcome.
- Les victimes de cette maladie sont souvent soumises à l'opprobre de la société.The victims of this disease are often subjected to societal disgrace.
- Le stigmate de la défaite est lourd.The stigma of defeat is heavy.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are discussing social challenges.
- ChloéLe stigmate lié à la maladie est injuste.The stigma linked to the illness is unfair.
- LucasJe suis d'accord, c'est très dur pour eux.I agree, it is very hard for them.
- ChloéOn doit changer le regard des gens.We must change people's perspective.
- LucasOui, Lucas pense que l'éducation est la clé.Yes, Lucas thinks that education is the key.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stigma” translations and entries stigmate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries stigmate, CC BY-SA 4.0.
