entraînement
/ɑ̃.tʁɛn.mɑ̃/masculine
The French word for training, in the sense of practicing and building skills, is entraînement.
entraînement is most often used for athletic training, physical conditioning and other repeated practice, such as a team's training session or a workout plan.
Meaning: the activity of imparting and acquiring skills (noun)
Which one should you use?
For professional or educational training, such as a course at work, French speakers prefer formation. The word enseignement mainly means teaching or education. In France, apprentissage is closely tied to apprenticeships, which combine on-the-job training with classroom learning.
How does it change in a sentence?
entraînement is a masculine noun, so it takes un. After besoin the preposition shortens to give d'entraînement.
How do you pronounce it?
In IPA it is /ɑ̃.tʁɛn.mɑ̃/, three syllables, with a nasal vowel at the start and at the end.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use entraînement for a professional course or job training. Use formation there and keep entraînement for practice and sport.
Did you know?
- The word entraînement comes from the verb entraîner, which originally meant 'to draw' or 'to drag' a load. This sense of being pulled along or dragged into a repetitive routine is still hidden within the modern way we talk about athletic training.
- The verb entraîner is also used in more formal logic and everyday speech to express a cause-and-effect relationship, essentially meaning that one action 'triggers' or 'leads to' another result.
- In a professional context, the term for training is formation because it views a person's career as something being 'formed' or 'molded'. It treats the acquisition of skills as a way of shaping one's professional identity.
Examples in context
- C'est un bon entraînement.It's good training.C'est un bon entraînement is a simple way to say something is good practice.Tatoeba #1482819 by sacredceltic, translation #1482712 by Spamster
- Tom a besoin d'entraînement.Tom needs training.After besoin, the word appears as d'entraînement to say Tom needs training.Tatoeba #9463983 by Micsmithel, translation #2237429 by CK
- Aucun entraînement formel n'est requis.No formal training is required.Aucun before entraînement says that no training at all is required.Tatoeba #7871633 by sacredceltic, translation #5360748 by CK
- J'ai suivi une rééducation professionnelleI underwent vocational training.
- Je suis en formation linguistiqueI am in language training.
- Je suis intéressé par un enseignement techniqueI am interested in technical training.
- Je suis inscrit à une formation continue en gestionI am enrolled in continuous training in management.
- J'ai effectué un stage de trois moisI completed a three-month internship.
- Ma fille fait un apprentissage dans une boulangerieMy daughter is doing an apprenticeship in a bakery.
- Je suis en formation pour devenir pilote.I am in training to become a pilot.
- Elle a suivi une formation intensive en gestion de projet.She underwent intensive project management training.
- Mon entreprise organise une formation en développement personnel.My company is organizing a training in personal development.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are talking about a sports club.
- EmmaTu viens à l'entraînement ce soir ?Are you coming to training tonight?
- LucasOui, je ne veux pas manquer l'entraînement.Yes, I don't want to miss training.
- EmmaC'est important pour ton entraînement physique.It is important for your physical training.
- LucasTu as raison, Emma.You are right, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “training” translations and entries entraînement, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries entraînement, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
