Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cible | /sibl/ | feminine |
| objectif | /ɔb.ʒɛk.tif/ | masculine |
| but | /byt/ | masculine |
In French, different words are used to express the concept of a target based on whether it is physical, demographic or a conceptual goal. cible is used for a physical target or a specific target audience or demographic. The related verb cibler means to aim for a specific audience. objectif refers to an aim or a target. The verb viser is the standard way to say you are aiming something, such as a weapon, at a target.
Which one should you use?
cible refers to a physical target, such as a bullseye or a demographic target. objectif is used for specific, measurable goals, often in professional or academic settings. but is another way to say a goal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
cible is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles like la or une. objectif and but are masculine nouns and require masculine articles like le or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/sibl/
Did you know?
- While objectif is used for targets, it is also the adjective used in photography to describe a camera lens.
- The word cible actually has Swiss roots, originating from the Alemannic German word Schiibe.
- In French sports, the word but describes both the physical goal posts and the act of scoring a goal.
Examples in context
- Elle visa la cible.She aimed at the target.This sentence shows the use of the verb viser with the noun cible.Tatoeba #1330148 by sacredceltic, translation #315910 by CK
- La cible est en vue.The target is in sight.Tatoeba #4220452 by Alexs, translation #4219270 by megamanenm
- Tu as raté la cible.You missed the target.Tatoeba #8392305 by Aiji, translation #2546881 by CK
- Notre but principal est de terminer ce projet à temps.Our main goal is to finish this project on time.
- Quel est votre objectif professionnel à long terme ?What is your long-term career objective?
- Les publicités télévisées ont pour cible les consommateurs de 18 à 35 ans.Television advertisements target consumers aged 18 to 35.
- Mon but est de me remettre en forme avant l'été.My goal is to get back in shape before summer.
- J'ai atteint mon objectif de lire dix livres cette année.I reached my objective of reading ten books this year.
- Les blogueurs ciblent souvent un public spécifique.Bloggers often target a specific audience.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are discussing their marketing strategy for a new project.
- LéaQuelle est notre cible pour ce produit ?Who is our target for this product?
- NathanLa cible principale sont les jeunes étudiants.The main target is young students.
- LéaC'est une bonne cible pour commencer.That is a good target to start with.
- NathanOui, on peut ajuster la cible plus tard.Yes, we can adjust the target later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “target” translations and entries cible, objectif, but, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries but, cible, objectif, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
