fenêtre
/fə.nɛtʁ/feminine
The French word for window is fenêtre.
fenêtre is the most common and standard term used to refer to a window.
Meaning: opening for light and air (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
fenêtre is a feminine noun, which is why the feminine definite article la is used in the phrase la fenêtre. To form the plural, add an s to the end to get les fenêtres, though this final s is silent.
How do you pronounce it?
/fə.nɛtʁ/
Did you know?
- If you are referring to a small, decorative window often found in old French buildings, you might use the word œil-de-bœuf instead of fenêtre.
- The word fenêtre likely traces back to the Etruscans rather than the Romans, suggesting a non-Latin origin for the concept of a window in France.
- While English speakers use 'window' to describe a period of time, such as a 'window of opportunity', French speakers use the term créneau instead.
Examples in context
- Ferme la fenêtre !Close the window.This sentence is useful for practicing a command to close the fenêtre.Tatoeba #1851017 by Rovo, translation #274237 by CK
- Ouvre la fenêtre !Open the window!This sentence is useful for practicing a command to open the fenêtre.Tatoeba #5386987 by alexisslay, translation #5333198 by KatKoba
- Ouvrons la fenêtre !Let's open the window.This sentence is useful for practicing a suggestion to open the fenêtre.Tatoeba #129044 by sacredceltic, translation #274227 by CK
- Regarde par la fenêtre.Look out the window.
- Ferme la vitre, il fait froid dehors.Close the window, it's cold outside.
- 611 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are in their living room.
- EmmaGabriel, il fait chaud ici.Gabriel, it is hot in here.
- GabrielTu veux ouvrir la fenêtre ?Do you want to open the window?
- EmmaOui, s'il te plaît, ouvre la fenêtre.Yes, please, open the window.
- GabrielD'accord, je l'ouvre tout de suite.Okay, I am opening it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “window” translations and entries fenêtre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fenêtre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
