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B2 noun 12 دقيقة للقراءة

d'enfance

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح d'enfance في 30 ثانية

الشرح d'enfance in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn basic descriptions. You should learn 'd'enfance' as part of the common phrase 'ami d'enfance' (childhood friend). In French, we don't say 'childhood friend' as two words like in English. Instead, we say 'friend of childhood.' The word 'de' (of) becomes 'd'' because 'enfance' starts with the vowel 'e'. This is a fixed phrase you can use to talk about people you have known for a very long time. For example, if you want to introduce your best friend from school, you can say 'C'est mon ami d'enfance.' It's a simple way to add more detail to your personal introductions. You might also hear it in 'souvenir d'enfance' (childhood memory), which is useful for basic storytelling about your past. Focus on the fact that 'd'enfance' always comes after the noun. You don't need to worry about changing the ending of 'd'enfance' because it stays the same whether you are talking about one friend or many friends. Just remember the sound: 'dan-fance'. It's a very common and friendly term that will make your French sound much more natural and warm when talking about your life.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the A2 level, you can start using 'd'enfance' to describe more than just friends. You can apply it to places and objects from your past. For example, 'ma maison d'enfance' (my childhood home) or 'mon jouet d'enfance' (my childhood toy). This allows you to talk about your history and nostalgia with more variety. You should notice that 'd'enfance' is a prepositional phrase acting like an adjective. In English, we often put 'childhood' before the noun, but in French, it must follow the noun. A common mistake at this level is saying 'ami de enfance'—remember that the 'e' in 'de' must disappear and be replaced by an apostrophe because 'enfance' starts with a vowel. You can also use it to answer questions about your past, such as 'Quel est votre meilleur souvenir d'enfance?' (What is your best childhood memory?). This level is about expanding your vocabulary to describe your personal environment and history. You will also start to see it in simple stories or children's books. Practice using it with different nouns like 'ville' (city), 'quartier' (neighborhood), or 'rêve' (dream) to see how versatile it is.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'd'enfance' in more complex sentences and understanding its emotional nuances. This is the level where you can start to distinguish between 'd'enfance' (referring to the time period) and 'd'enfant' (referring to the qualities of a child). For example, 'un ami d'enfance' is someone you knew when you were little, but 'un visage d'enfant' is a face that looks young. You can also use 'd'enfance' to talk about abstract concepts like 'traumatismes d'enfance' (childhood traumas) or 'passions d'enfance' (childhood passions). At this stage, you should be able to integrate 'd'enfance' into longer narratives about your life or the lives of others. It's also useful for discussing literature or films, where 'souvenirs d'enfance' is a frequent theme. You might also encounter the phrase 'petite enfance' (early childhood, usually ages 0-6), and you should understand how 'd'enfance' relates to this. When writing, ensure you don't pluralize 'enfance' even if the noun it modifies is plural (e.g., 'mes rêves d'enfance'). This level requires a higher degree of grammatical precision and an awareness of the nostalgic tone the phrase often carries in French culture.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'd'enfance' with the same fluency as a native speaker, recognizing its cultural and literary significance. You should understand that 'd'enfance' is not just a chronological marker but often carries a sense of 'foundational' or 'original.' For instance, in a debate about personality, you might say 'C'est un trait de caractère qui remonte à son enfance' or talk about 'l'influence d'enfance' on an artist's work. You should also be able to contrast it with 'de jeunesse' (from youth/adolescence) to be more precise about when an event occurred. At B2, you should recognize the phrase in more formal contexts, such as 'la protection de l'enfance' (child protection services) or 'littérature d'enfance et de jeunesse.' You should be able to use it in professional settings, like during an interview when discussing your 'vocation d'enfance' (childhood calling). Your ability to use the phrase to evoke specific emotions or to provide deep context to a story is key. You should also be aware of the liaison and flow in spoken French when 'd'enfance' follows a word ending in a consonant, ensuring your pronunciation is smooth and natural. This level is about mastery of context and the subtle differences between similar temporal descriptors.

At the C1 level, you should explore the philosophical and stylistic uses of 'd'enfance.' In French literature and philosophy, 'l'enfance' is often treated as a state of being rather than just a time period. You might analyze how an author uses 'souvenirs d'enfance' to construct a narrative identity. You should be able to use the phrase in highly sophisticated ways, such as discussing 'le paradis perdu d'enfance' (the lost paradise of childhood) or 'les déterminismes d'enfance' (childhood determinisms) in a sociological essay. You will also encounter 'd'enfance' in legal and administrative texts where precision is paramount, such as 'juge des enfants' or 'aide sociale à l'enfance.' At this level, you should be able to appreciate the subtle irony or poignancy when 'd'enfance' is used to describe something that has persisted into a very different adult reality. You should also be comfortable with the plural 'enfances' in specialized contexts where it refers to different types of childhood experiences across cultures or classes. Your usage should be impeccable, and you should be able to explain the nuances of the phrase to lower-level learners, including why 'd'enfance' is preferred over other constructions in specific rhetorical situations.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'd'enfance' is complete, allowing you to use it with creative and rhetorical flair. You can use it to create complex metaphors or to tap into the deep well of French cultural nostalgia. You might use it in a speech to evoke a collective sense of history or in a literary critique to discuss the 'topos de l'enfance' in 19th-century novels. You understand the historical evolution of the term and how its usage has changed alongside the social construction of childhood itself. In your own writing, you can play with the phrase, perhaps contrasting 'l'innocence d'enfance' with the 'corruptions de l'âge adulte' in a way that is both linguistically perfect and intellectually profound. You are also fully aware of all legal, psychological, and technical applications of the term, from 'psychiatrie d'enfance' to 'politiques de l'enfance.' At this level, 'd'enfance' is no longer just a vocabulary item but a versatile tool for expressing complex ideas about time, memory, and human development. You can effortlessly switch between the nostalgic, the clinical, and the literary uses of the phrase, maintaining the appropriate register and tone for any given situation.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

d'enfance في 30 ثانية

Means 'of/from childhood' and functions as an adjective.
Always follows the noun it modifies (e.g., ami d'enfance).
Carries strong nostalgic and emotional connotations in French.
Essential for discussing personal history and long-term relationships.

The term d'enfance is a quintessential French adjectival phrase that translates literally to 'of childhood' or 'from childhood.' In the French language, it serves as a powerful descriptor that anchors a noun to the specific developmental period of a person's early life. While in English we might simply say 'childhood friend' or 'childhood home,' French utilizes the prepositional construction de (of) followed by the noun enfance (childhood). Because enfance begins with a vowel, the de elides into d', creating the fluid and evocative d'enfance.

Temporal Anchor: It specifies that the object or relationship originated during the years of being a child, typically from birth to approximately twelve years old.

Culturally, this phrase carries a significant weight of nostalgia and permanence. To call someone an ami d'enfance is to imply a bond that has survived the transition into adulthood, suggesting a shared history and a deep, foundational understanding of one another's character. It is not merely a chronological marker; it is a badge of loyalty and shared growth. This phrase is used in literature, daily conversation, and formal biographies to provide context to a person's current identity by referencing their origins.

Elle a retrouvé sa vieille maison d'enfance après vingt ans d'absence.

Emotional Resonance: The phrase often evokes feelings of innocence, simplicity, and the formative experiences that shape a human being's adult life.

In French literature, particularly in the works of Marcel Proust, the concept of the souvenir d'enfance is central to understanding the human psyche. It represents a lost paradise or a foundational truth that the adult seeks to reclaim or understand. When you use this phrase, you are tapping into a long tradition of French thought regarding the importance of one's beginnings. It is also used in psychological contexts to discuss 'traumatismes d'enfance' (childhood traumas) or 'rêves d'enfance' (childhood dreams), showing its versatility across emotional spectrums.

Mon plus grand rêve d'enfance était de devenir astronaute et de voyager vers Mars.

Grammatical Structure: The construction is [Noun] + [de] + [enfance]. The elision is mandatory because 'enfance' starts with a vowel.

Whether you are describing a 'compagnon d'enfance' (childhood companion) or a 'passion d'enfance' (childhood passion), the phrase acts as a bridge between the present and the past. It is incredibly common in French because the language prefers these prepositional constructions over the noun-adjunct compounds common in English (like 'childhood friend'). Mastery of this phrase allows you to speak more naturally about personal history and nostalgia, which are frequent topics in French social interactions.

C'est un parfum qui me rappelle mes vacances d'enfance en Bretagne.

Leurs aventures d'enfance ont été racontées dans un livre à succès l'année dernière.

Il garde précieusement ses jouets d'enfance dans un coffre au grenier.

Using d'enfance correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of French syntax regarding prepositional modifiers. Unlike English, where 'childhood' can function as an adjective preceding the noun (e.g., 'childhood memories'), French almost always places the modifier after the noun. You must first state the object or person, and then qualify it with d'enfance to indicate its origin or association with that specific life stage.

The Standard Pattern: [Noun] + [d'enfance]. For example: 'un ami d'enfance' (a childhood friend), 'un souvenir d'enfance' (a childhood memory).

When constructing complex sentences, d'enfance remains attached to its noun. If the noun is plural, d'enfance does not change because 'enfance' is a singular concept. For instance, 'mes souvenirs d'enfance' (my childhood memories). Notice that 'souvenirs' is plural, but 'enfance' remains singular. This is a common point of confusion for learners who might be tempted to pluralize 'enfance' to match the main noun.

Nous partageons de nombreux secrets d'enfance que personne d'autre ne connaît.

The phrase is also frequently used in the context of location and property. When referring to the house where one grew up, the standard term is maison d'enfance. This is more evocative than simply saying 'the house I lived in as a child.' It implies a deep connection to the space. Similarly, you can use it for 'quartier d'enfance' (childhood neighborhood) or 'ville d'enfance' (childhood town).

Verb Compatibility: It often follows verbs like 'évoquer' (to evoke), 'se rappeler' (to remember), or 'chercher' (to look for), especially when discussing the past.

Another important usage is in the description of human relationships. Beyond 'ami d'enfance,' you can have a 'rival d'enfance' (childhood rival) or an 'amour d'enfance' (childhood sweetheart/love). These terms define the longevity and the foundational nature of the relationship. When you introduce someone using these terms, it provides immediate social context that an English speaker would understand through the prefix 'childhood-'.

Marie est mon amie d'enfance; nous nous connaissons depuis la maternelle.

Abstract Nouns: It can modify abstract concepts like 'traumatisme' (trauma), 'joie' (joy), or 'innocence' (innocence) to specify when these feelings occurred.

In professional or academic writing, you might encounter d'enfance in phrases like 'littérature d'enfance et de jeunesse' (children's and youth literature). Here, it categorizes the target audience or the subject matter based on the life stage. This highlights the flexibility of the phrase, moving from deeply personal nostalgia to formal classification.

Il a écrit un essai sur les traumatismes d'enfance et leur impact sur l'adulte.

Cette mélodie est liée à un souvenir d'enfance très précis chez moi.

Elle collectionne les livres d'enfance pour leur beauté esthétique.

The phrase d'enfance is ubiquitous in French life, appearing in everything from casual dinner conversations to high-brow literary analysis. One of the most common places you will hear it is during social introductions. When a French person introduces a long-time friend, they will almost invariably use the term 'ami d'enfance' to explain the depth of their connection. It serves as a shorthand for 'we have no secrets from each other because we grew up together.'

Everyday Conversations: Used when reminiscing about old times, schools, or family traditions during holidays or reunions.

In the realm of media and entertainment, d'enfance is a staple in interviews with celebrities or public figures. Journalists often ask about 'souvenirs d'enfance' to humanize the subject and uncover the formative influences that led to their success. You will hear phrases like 'Ma passion pour la musique est un rêve d'enfance' (My passion for music is a childhood dream). This usage reinforces the idea that adult achievements are often the realization of childhood aspirations.

Lors de l'interview, l'acteur a évoqué ses souvenirs d'enfance avec émotion.

Cinematic Tropes: Common in French cinema (the 'cinéma de la nostalgie') where characters return to their childhood homes or reconnect with old friends.

You will also encounter this phrase in news reports and documentaries, particularly those focusing on social issues or psychology. Phrases like 'la protection d'enfance' (child protection) or 'délinquance d'enfance' (childhood delinquency) appear in legal and sociological contexts. However, in these formal settings, the phrase is less about nostalgia and more about categorizing a specific demographic or life stage for policy purposes.

Le documentaire explore les jeux d'enfance à travers les différentes cultures.

Literary Contexts: Found in autobiographies and memoirs where authors reflect on their 'maison d'enfance' or 'amis d'enfance'.

In advertising, d'enfance is used to evoke a sense of comfort and reliability. Products like cookies, jams, or laundry detergents often use slogans that reference 'le goût d'enfance' (the taste of childhood) or 'les parfums d'enfance' (childhood scents). By linking their product to these formative, positive memories, advertisers hope to create a strong emotional bond with the consumer. This shows how deeply the concept is embedded in the French collective psyche.

Cette marque de biscuits joue sur nos souvenirs d'enfance les plus chers.

Il a retrouvé un vieil ami d'enfance par pur hasard au supermarché.

Les contes d'enfance façonnent souvent notre vision du monde adulte.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using d'enfance is confusing it with the phrase d'enfant. While they look similar, their meanings are distinct and using one in place of the other can lead to confusion or sounding unnatural. D'enfance refers to the chronological period (childhood), whereas d'enfant refers to the nature or quality of a child. For example, 'un souvenir d'enfance' is a memory from that time, but 'un visage d'enfant' is a face that looks like a child's face.

The 'De' vs 'D'enfance' Trap: Never say 'ami de enfance'. The elision is mandatory. Always contract to 'd'enfance'.

Another common mistake is pluralizing enfance when the noun it modifies is plural. In English, we say 'childhood memories,' and because 'memories' is plural, learners often want to make 'enfance' plural too. However, in French, you are referring to the single period of childhood. Therefore, it is 'mes souvenirs d'enfance,' never 'mes souvenirs d'enfances.' The only time you might see 'enfances' pluralized is in a sociological or literary context discussing multiple different types of childhood experiences (e.g., 'les enfances malheureuses').

Faux: Mes amis d'enfances sont venus. Correct: Mes amis d'enfance sont venus.

Word Order Errors: English speakers often try to place 'enfance' before the noun, like an adjective. 'Enfance ami' is incorrect; it must be 'ami d'enfance'.

Learners also sometimes confuse d'enfance with de jeunesse. While they are related, enfance specifically covers the period up to puberty, whereas jeunesse (youth) covers the teenage years and early adulthood. If you are talking about a friend you met when you were five, 'ami d'enfance' is appropriate. If you met them at seventeen, 'ami de jeunesse' is more accurate. Using 'd'enfance' for a high school friend can sound slightly off to a native speaker.

Il ne faut pas confondre un caprice d'enfant avec un traumatisme d'enfance.

Contextual Misuse: Avoid using 'd'enfance' to describe things made for children today; use 'pour enfants' instead (e.g., 'des livres pour enfants').

Finally, be careful with the preposition. Sometimes learners use dans l'enfance when they should use d'enfance as a modifier. 'Un événement dans l'enfance' is an event that happened during childhood, which is grammatically fine, but 'un événement d'enfance' is more common when categorizing the event itself. Generally, if you can replace 'childhood' with an adjective in English, d'enfance is likely the correct choice in French.

Son comportement d'enfant agace ses collègues, car il manque de maturité.

Elle a gardé son âme d'enfant malgré les épreuves de la vie adulte.

C'est une erreur d'enfance que nous avons tous commise un jour ou l'autre.

While d'enfance is the standard term for 'childhood-related,' several other words and phrases can be used depending on the nuance you wish to convey. Understanding these alternatives will help you refine your French and choose the most precise word for the context. The most common alternative is de jeunesse, which covers a slightly later period but is often used interchangeably in casual speech.

D'enfance vs De jeunesse: 'D'enfance' refers to early childhood (0-12), while 'de jeunesse' refers to adolescence and early adulthood (13-25). Example: 'un ami de jeunesse' might be a university friend.

Another related term is enfantin. This is a true adjective, meaning it can change for gender and number (enfantin, enfantine, enfantins, enfantines). However, its meaning is different: it describes something that is 'childlike' or 'simple.' For instance, 'un jeu enfantin' is a game that is very easy or suitable for children. It does not necessarily mean the game was played during your childhood, but rather that it has the qualities of a child's game.

Il a un rire enfantin qui illumine toute la pièce quand il est heureux.

D'enfance vs Initial: 'Initial' is more formal and refers to the very beginning of something. While 'd'enfance' is personal, 'initial' is often used in professional or technical contexts.

In more formal or scientific contexts, you might use the adjective précoce (precocious/early). For example, 'un développement précoce' (early development). While 'd'enfance' describes the period, 'précoce' describes the timing relative to what is expected. Similarly, juvénile is used in legal or biological contexts, such as 'délinquance juvénile' (juvenile delinquency) or 'diabète juvénile' (juvenile diabetes).

Son talent précoce pour le piano a impressionné tous ses professeurs dès le début.

D'enfance vs Natal: 'Natal' refers specifically to birth. 'Ville natale' (birthplace) is common, whereas 'ville d'enfance' is where you grew up. They might be different!

Finally, the term pueril is a pejorative alternative. It means 'puerile' or 'childish' in a negative way, suggesting a lack of maturity that is inappropriate for an adult. While 'd'enfance' is neutral or nostalgic, 'pueril' is an insult. Choosing between these words depends entirely on your intent: are you reminiscing about a 'souvenir d'enfance' or criticizing someone's 'comportement puéril'?

Arrête d'avoir ces réactions puériles et discute comme un adulte responsable.

C'est une amitié de jeunesse qui a survécu malgré la distance et les années.

Leur complicité d'enfance est restée intacte après toutes ces décennies.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The word 'infantry' (soldiers on foot) actually comes from the same root 'infant,' because young, inexperienced soldiers were often called 'infants' in the Middle Ages.

دليل النطق

UK /dɑ̃.fɑ̃s/

US /dɑ̃.fɑ̃s/

In French, the stress is even, but slightly more weight falls on the final syllable 'fance'.

يتقافى مع

vacances stances chances dépenses récompenses croyances vengeances nuisances

أخطاء شائعة

Pronouncing the final 'e' as 'ee'. It should be silent.
Failing to make the nasal vowels, sounding like 'dan-fants' with a hard 'n'.
Adding a 't' sound at the end.
Not eliding the 'de' (saying 'de enfance').
Pronouncing the 'd' too harshly like in the English 'dance'.

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts as it usually follows a noun.

الكتابة 3/5

Requires remembering the elision (d') and the correct word order.

التحدث 3/5

Nasal vowels can be tricky for English speakers.

الاستماع 2/5

Clear pronunciation usually makes it easy to spot.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

enfant de ami maison souvenir

تعلّم لاحقاً

jeunesse adolescence adulte vieillesse souvenir

متقدم

puericulture infantile enfantin précoce juvénile

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Elision with 'de'

de + enfance = d'enfance

Prepositional phrases as adjectives

un ami d'enfance (Noun + prep + Noun)

Fixed gender in prepositional objects

mes souvenirs d'enfance (enfance remains feminine singular)

Word order of modifiers

Always after the noun: maison d'enfance, not enfance maison.

Nasal vowels

The 'en' and 'an' in enfance are both nasal vowels.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

C'est mon ami d'enfance.

This is my childhood friend.

Ami is the noun, d'enfance is the modifier.

J'ai un souvenir d'enfance.

I have a childhood memory.

Souvenir is masculine singular.

Où est ta maison d'enfance ?

Where is your childhood home?

Maison is feminine singular.

Il aime ses photos d'enfance.

He likes his childhood photos.

Photos is plural, but d'enfance remains singular.

C'est un jeu d'enfance.

It is a childhood game.

Jeu is masculine singular.

Elle a une amie d'enfance.

She has a (female) childhood friend.

Amie is feminine; d'enfance does not change.

Voici mon livre d'enfance.

Here is my childhood book.

Livre is masculine.

Nous parlons de nos souvenirs d'enfance.

We are talking about our childhood memories.

De nos souvenirs (plural) + d'enfance.

Je visite ma ville d'enfance ce week-end.

I am visiting my childhood town this weekend.

Ville d'enfance is the direct object.

Quel était ton rêve d'enfance ?

What was your childhood dream?

Rêve is masculine.

Elle a gardé son doudou d'enfance.

She kept her childhood stuffed toy.

Doudou is a common term for a security blanket/toy.

C'est une vieille chanson d'enfance.

It is an old childhood song.

Chanson is feminine.

Ils sont des compagnons d'enfance.

They are childhood companions.

Compagnons is plural.

Je me rappelle mon premier vélo d'enfance.

I remember my first childhood bicycle.

Vélo is masculine.

C'est son quartier d'enfance, il connaît tout le monde.

It's his childhood neighborhood, he knows everyone.

Quartier is masculine.

Nous avons beaucoup d'histoires d'enfance à raconter.

We have many childhood stories to tell.

Histoires is feminine plural.

Ce parfum évoque un souvenir d'enfance très précis.

This scent evokes a very specific childhood memory.

Évoquer is a common verb used with memories.

Il a réalisé son ambition d'enfance en devenant pilote.

He achieved his childhood ambition by becoming a pilot.

Ambition is feminine.

Leurs querelles d'enfance ont disparu avec l'âge.

Their childhood quarrels disappeared with age.

Querelles is feminine plural.

Elle écrit un livre sur ses années d'enfance en Afrique.

She is writing a book about her childhood years in Africa.

Années d'enfance is a common expression.

C'est une passion d'enfance qui est devenue son métier.

It's a childhood passion that became his profession.

Passion is feminine.

Il a retrouvé une boîte remplie de trésors d'enfance.

He found a box filled with childhood treasures.

Trésors is masculine plural.

Ma ville d'enfance a beaucoup changé depuis mon départ.

My childhood town has changed a lot since I left.

The verb changed agrees with 'ville'.

Nous avons une complicité d'enfance incroyable.

We have an incredible childhood bond.

Complicité is feminine.

L'auteur explore les traumatismes d'enfance dans son dernier roman.

The author explores childhood traumas in his latest novel.

Traumatismes is masculine plural.

Cette mélodie agit comme un déclencheur de souvenirs d'enfance.

This melody acts as a trigger for childhood memories.

Déclencheur is masculine singular.

Il garde une certaine naïveté d'enfance malgré ses responsabilités.

He keeps a certain childhood naivety despite his responsibilities.

Naïveté is feminine.

Le film raconte une amitié d'enfance brisée par la guerre.

The film tells of a childhood friendship broken by war.

Brisée agrees with amitié.

Elle a enfin visité le pays d'enfance de son grand-père.

She finally visited her grandfather's childhood country.

Pays is masculine.

Leurs jeux d'enfance étaient souvent inspirés par la mythologie.

Their childhood games were often inspired by mythology.

Jeux d'enfance is the subject.

C'est un secret d'enfance qu'ils ont juré de ne jamais révéler.

It's a childhood secret they swore never to reveal.

Secret is masculine.

L'odeur de la pluie lui rappelle ses vacances d'enfance à la campagne.

The smell of rain reminds him of his childhood holidays in the countryside.

Vacances is always plural in French.

L'œuvre de Proust est une quête incessante des souvenirs d'enfance.

Proust's work is an incessant quest for childhood memories.

Quête is feminine.

Les carences d'enfance peuvent avoir des répercussions à long terme.

Childhood deficiencies can have long-term repercussions.

Carences is feminine plural.

Il analyse les structures familiales à travers le prisme de l'enfance.

He analyzes family structures through the prism of childhood.

Prisme is masculine.

La nostalgie d'enfance est un thème récurrent dans la poésie romantique.

Childhood nostalgia is a recurring theme in Romantic poetry.

Thème is masculine.

Elle a su préserver cette curiosité d'enfance tout au long de sa carrière scientifique.

She managed to preserve that childhood curiosity throughout her scientific career.

Curiosité is feminine.

Les blessures d'enfance sont parfois les plus difficiles à cicatriser.

Childhood wounds are sometimes the hardest to heal.

Blessures is feminine plural.

Le récit dépeint avec brio les paysages d'enfance de l'auteur.

The narrative brilliantly depicts the author's childhood landscapes.

Paysages is masculine plural.

Ils ont partagé une éducation d'enfance stricte mais aimante.

They shared a strict but loving childhood upbringing.

Éducation is feminine.

L'ontologie de l'être se forge souvent dans les replis de l'enfance.

The ontology of being is often forged in the folds of childhood.

Replis is masculine plural, here used metaphorically.

Le protagoniste est hanté par une promesse d'enfance non tenue.

The protagonist is haunted by an unkept childhood promise.

Promesse is feminine.

L'esthétique du film repose sur une reconstitution minutieuse d'une ambiance d'enfance.

The film's aesthetic rests on a meticulous reconstruction of a childhood atmosphere.

Ambiance is feminine.

Il existe une corrélation entre les jeux d'enfance et les aptitudes cognitives ultérieures.

A correlation exists between childhood games and later cognitive abilities.

Corrélation is feminine.

La littérature d'enfance et de jeunesse constitue un champ de recherche académique majeur.

Children's and youth literature constitutes a major field of academic research.

Champ is masculine.

Elle explore la sémantique des souvenirs d'enfance dans son essai philosophique.

She explores the semantics of childhood memories in her philosophical essay.

Sémantique is feminine.

Le trauma d'enfance s'inscrit parfois dans l'épigénétique de l'individu.

Childhood trauma is sometimes inscribed in the individual's epigenetics.

Trauma is masculine.

Le retour sur les lieux d'enfance provoque souvent une catharsis émotionnelle.

Returning to childhood places often provokes an emotional catharsis.

Lieux is masculine plural.

تلازمات شائعة

ami d'enfance

souvenir d'enfance

maison d'enfance

rêve d'enfance

photo d'enfance

traumatisme d'enfance

ville d'enfance

lecture d'enfance

jouet d'enfance

passion d'enfance

العبارات الشائعة

depuis l'enfance

— Since childhood; refers to an action that has continued since then.

Je joue du piano depuis l'enfance.

berceau d'enfance

— Childhood cradle; often used metaphorically for one's origin.

Cette région est son berceau d'enfance.

compagnon d'enfance

— Childhood companion; a slightly more formal version of 'ami d'enfance'.

Ils étaient compagnons d'enfance inséparables.

parfum d'enfance

— Childhood scent; often used in literature or marketing.

L'odeur de la brioche a un parfum d'enfance.

jeux d'enfance

— Childhood games; refers to activities done as a child.

Leurs jeux d'enfance étaient pleins d'imagination.

amours d'enfance

— Childhood loves or sweethearts.

On n'oublie jamais ses amours d'enfance.

récit d'enfance

— Childhood narrative; a story about one's early years.

Il a écrit un récit d'enfance très touchant.

scènes d'enfance

— Childhood scenes; specific moments remembered from the past.

Le peintre a représenté des scènes d'enfance.

vocation d'enfance

— Childhood calling; a career goal held since being a child.

Soigner les animaux était sa vocation d'enfance.

éducation d'enfance

— Childhood education/upbringing.

Son éducation d'enfance a été très stricte.

يُخلط عادةً مع

d'enfance vs d'enfant

Refers to the nature of a child (e.g., childlike face) rather than the time period.

d'enfance vs de jeunesse

Refers to the period of adolescence or early adulthood.

d'enfance vs enfantin

An adjective meaning childish or very simple.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"retomber en enfance"

— To become childish again or to suffer from senility in old age.

Le vieil homme semble retomber en enfance.

informal/sensitive

"chercher ses souvenirs d'enfance"

— To dig deep into one's memory to find old moments.

Il cherche ses souvenirs d'enfance pour écrire son livre.

neutral

"avoir une âme d'enfant"

— To have a child's soul; to remain innocent or wonder-filled.

Elle a gardé son âme d'enfant toute sa vie.

poetic

"un jeu d'enfant"

— Child's play; something very easy to do.

Réparer ce vélo est un jeu d'enfant.

neutral

"dès le berceau"

— From the cradle; from the very beginning of life.

Il était destiné à la musique dès le berceau.

literary

"sortir de l'enfance"

— To leave childhood behind; to grow up.

Il commence enfin à sortir de l'enfance.

neutral

"l'enfance de l'art"

— The very basics of a skill; something elementary.

Savoir tenir un pinceau est l'enfance de l'art pour un peintre.

neutral

"une erreur de jeunesse"

— A mistake made when young and inexperienced.

C'était juste une erreur de jeunesse, pardonne-lui.

neutral

"bercer d'illusions"

— To lull someone with illusions (like a child being rocked).

Il s'est bercé d'illusions pendant des années.

literary

"être dans les langes"

— To be in swaddling clothes; to be an infant or in the very early stages.

Le projet est encore dans les langes.

metaphorical

سهل الخلط

d'enfance vs d'enfant

Similar spelling and sound.

D'enfance is temporal (time); d'enfant is qualitative (nature).

Un souvenir d'enfance (memory from then) vs Un dessin d'enfant (drawing made by a child).

d'enfance vs enfantin

Both relate to children.

Enfantin describes the simplicity or maturity level; d'enfance describes the origin in time.

Un jeu enfantin (a simple game) vs Un jeu d'enfance (a game played when young).

d'enfance vs infantile

Both relate to children.

Infantile is often medical or pejorative (acting like a baby).

Une maladie infantile (childhood disease) vs Un comportement infantile (immature behavior).

d'enfance vs de jeunesse

Both refer to the past.

Jeunesse is later (teens/20s); enfance is earlier (0-12).

Un ami de jeunesse (met at university) vs Un ami d'enfance (met at primary school).

d'enfance vs natal

Both refer to origins.

Natal refers specifically to the place of birth; d'enfance refers to where one grew up.

Ma ville natale (where I was born) vs Ma ville d'enfance (where I lived as a kid).

أنماط الجُمل

C'est mon [Noun] d'enfance.

C'est mon ami d'enfance.

J'ai gardé mon [Noun] d'enfance.

J'ai gardé mon jouet d'enfance.

Cela me rappelle un [Noun] d'enfance.

Cela me rappelle un souvenir d'enfance.

C'est un [Noun] d'enfance qui [Verb].

C'est un rêve d'enfance qui se réalise.

L'auteur explore les [Noun] d'enfance.

L'auteur explore les traumatismes d'enfance.

L'ontologie de [Noun] réside dans [Noun] d'enfance.

L'ontologie de l'être réside dans les souvenirs d'enfance.

Depuis l'enfance, je [Verb].

Depuis l'enfance, je joue du violon.

Où est ton [Noun] d'enfance ?

Où est ton quartier d'enfance ?

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

enfant (child)

enfance (childhood)

enfantillage (childishness)

الأفعال

enfanter (to give birth)

s'enfanter (to be born/created)

الصفات

enfantin (childish/simple)

infantile (infantile)

مرتبط

puericulture

pédiatrie

jeunesse

adolescence

maternité

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Very common in both spoken and written French.

أخطاء شائعة

Un ami de enfance → Un ami d'enfance
You must elide 'de' before a vowel. 'De enfance' is grammatically incorrect.
Mes souvenirs d'enfances → Mes souvenirs d'enfance
Childhood is a single period; the noun 'enfance' remains singular even if the memories are plural.
Mon enfance ami → Mon ami d'enfance
In French, adjectival modifiers usually follow the noun. You cannot place 'enfance' before 'ami'.
Un visage d'enfance → Un visage d'enfant
'D'enfance' refers to the time; 'd'enfant' refers to the look or quality. A young-looking face is a 'visage d'enfant'.
Un jeu d'enfance (meaning a simple game) → Un jeu enfantin
'D'enfance' refers to when you played it; 'enfantin' refers to how easy or childish the game is.

نصائح

Always Elide

Never write 'de enfance'. The vowel 'e' at the end of 'de' must be dropped before the 'e' of 'enfance'.

Context Matters

Use 'd'enfance' for people you knew before age 12. Use 'de jeunesse' for those you met as a teenager.

Nasal Sounds

The two 'an/en' sounds in 'enfance' are identical. Practice them as a single nasal breath.

No Plural 's'

Even if you have many 'souvenirs', 'enfance' stays singular: 'souvenirs d'enfance'.

Nostalgia

French people love talking about their childhood. Using 'd'enfance' correctly will help you connect with them on a personal level.

Fixed Phrases

Learn 'ami d'enfance' and 'souvenir d'enfance' as single units of meaning.

D'enfance vs D'enfant

Use 'd'enfance' for 'from that time' and 'd'enfant' for 'belonging to a child'.

Liaison

Listen for the smooth flow between the noun and 'd'enfance'. Native speakers say it very quickly.

Be Evocative

Using 'maison d'enfance' sounds much more poetic and emotional than 'la maison où j'ai grandi'.

Practice with Photos

Look at your old photos and label them in French using '[Noun] d'enfance'.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'The Entrance' to life. Childhood is the 'Entrance' (Enfance) to your adult world.

ربط بصري

Imagine a small door (entrance) that leads into a giant playground. That door is your 'enfance'.

Word Web

Ami Maison Souvenir Rêve Photo Ville Jeux Passion

تحدٍّ

Try to write three sentences about your childhood using 'd'enfance' after three different nouns (e.g., friend, house, dream).

أصل الكلمة

Derived from the Latin 'infantia', which comes from 'infans' (unable to speak). In Latin, 'in-' is a negative prefix and 'fans' is the present participle of 'fari' (to speak).

المعنى الأصلي: The state of being an infant, specifically the period before a child can speak coherently.

Romance (Latin root).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful when using 'retomber en enfance' as it can be offensive when referring to elderly people with cognitive decline.

In English, we often use 'childhood' as a prefix (childhood friend). In French, you must use the 'of childhood' (d'enfance) structure.

À la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust (focuses on childhood memory). Le Petit Nicolas (classic stories about French childhood). La Gloire de mon père by Marcel Pagnol (memoir of childhood).

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Introducing a friend

C'est mon ami d'enfance.
On est amis d'enfance.
Je le connais depuis l'enfance.
C'est une amie d'enfance.

Talking about memories

C'est un bon souvenir d'enfance.
Je me rappelle mes jeux d'enfance.
J'évoque souvent mes souvenirs d'enfance.
C'est lié à un souvenir d'enfance.

Describing your hometown

C'est ma ville d'enfance.
J'ai grandi dans cette maison d'enfance.
Je retourne dans mon quartier d'enfance.
C'est le décor de mon enfance.

Discussing goals

C'était mon rêve d'enfance.
J'ai toujours eu cette passion d'enfance.
C'est une vocation d'enfance.
Je réalise un projet d'enfance.

Psychology/Health

Il traite des traumatismes d'enfance.
La santé d'enfance est primordiale.
Le développement d'enfance est crucial.
L'éducation d'enfance façonne l'adulte.

بدايات محادثة

"As-tu encore des contacts avec tes amis d'enfance ?"

"Quel est ton souvenir d'enfance le plus précieux ?"

"À quoi ressemblait ta maison d'enfance ?"

"Avais-tu un rêve d'enfance particulier quand tu étais petit ?"

"Quelle était ta lecture d'enfance préférée ?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Décrivez votre meilleur ami d'enfance et comment vous vous êtes rencontrés.

Racontez un souvenir d'enfance qui vous fait encore sourire aujourd'hui.

Si vous pouviez retourner dans votre maison d'enfance, que feriez-vous ?

Comment vos rêves d'enfance ont-ils influencé votre vie actuelle ?

Écrivez sur un objet d'enfance que vous avez conservé précieusement.

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

It depends on the friend. For a male friend, it's 'un ami d'enfance.' For a female friend, it's 'une amie d'enfance.' The 'd'enfance' part never changes.

No, you should almost always use the singular 'd'enfance' because you are referring to the single period of your childhood. Using the plural is very rare and only for specific academic contexts.

'D'enfance' means 'from childhood' (time). 'Enfantin' means 'childish' or 'simple' (quality). For example, 'un souvenir d'enfance' is a memory, but 'un jeu enfantin' is an easy game.

It is a nasal vowel. You should produce the 'a' sound but let the air escape through your nose. Do not pronounce a hard 'n' with your tongue.

It is always 'd'enfance.' In French, when 'de' is followed by a word starting with a vowel, it must elide into 'd''. This is mandatory.

Technically, 'de jeunesse' is more accurate for high school friends (adolescence). 'D'enfance' usually implies primary school or earlier.

Rarely. It is almost exclusively used for human developmental periods. For animals, you might say 'depuis qu'il est petit'.

It always comes after the noun. For example, 'maison d'enfance' (house of childhood).

It is a 'childhood dream'—something you wanted to do or be when you were a little child.

No, it is a modifier. The noun it modifies (like 'souvenir') or the full phrase (like 'l'enfance') can be a subject.

سجّل مجاناً للنصائح والملاحظات