Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| résumé | /ʁe.zy.me/ | masculine |
| sommaire | /sɔ.mɛʁ/ | masculine |
| compte rendu | /kɔ̃t ʁɑ̃.dy/ | masculine |
In French, several words describe a condensed presentation depending on the context. Use résumé for a condensed version of a story, book or text. Use sommaire to refer to a table of contents or a brief outline of a document's structure. Use compte rendu when you need a formal report or an account of an event or a meeting.
Which one should you use?
While résumé is the general term for a summary of a text, sommaire usually refers to a table of contents. If you are describing an account or a formal report of something that happened, such as a meeting, use compte rendu. Additionally, sommaire can function as an adjective meaning concise or it can refer to the legal process of cutting normal trial procedures.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of résumé is résumés, and the plural of compte rendu is comptes rendus.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of résumé is /ʁe.zy.me/ and consists of three syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use résumé to refer to a CV for a job application. In French, a document for a job application is called a CV (curriculum vitae), whereas résumé specifically means a summary of a text.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Un résumé contient l'essentiel d'un texte.A summary contains the essence of a text.This sentence shows that a résumé contains the essential parts of a text.Tatoeba #10902050 by lbdx, translation #10892040 by megamanenm
- Lis le résumé.Read the summary.This sentence is a simple instruction to read the résumé.Tatoeba #11837538 by Amastan, translation #8295093 by Amastan
- Se préparant à ses examens, Masha souligne les phrases les plus importantes du résumé avec un marqueur.Preparing for her exams, Masha underlines the most important sentences in the summary with a marker.This sentence illustrates a student using a marker to highlight important parts of a résumé while studying.Tatoeba #8756004 by Aiji, translation #8086765 by AlanF_US
- J'ai préparé un résumé détaillé de mon projet.I have prepared a detailed summary of my project.
- Après une longue analyse, j'ai réalisé une synthèse des principaux résultats.After extensive analysis, I have created a summary of the main results.
- Voici le sommaire du rapport que nous avons préparé.Here is the summary of the report we have prepared.
- Pourrais-tu me faire un récap de la réunion d'hier ?Could you give me a summary of yesterday's meeting?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are discussing a film they just watched.
- GabrielEst-ce que tu as aimé le film ?Did you like the movie?
- ChloéOui, mais le résumé était un peu trompeur.Yes, but the summary was a bit misleading.
- GabrielC'est vrai, l'intrigue est différente.It's true, the plot is different.
- ChloéExactement, Gabriel.Exactly, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “summary” translations and entries résumé, sommaire, compte rendu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries compte, compte rendu, sommaire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
