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A2 noun #1,500 am häufigsten 13 Min. Lesezeit

mètre

Top 1,500

At the A1 level, 'mètre' is introduced as a basic unit of measurement. Students learn it alongside numbers and physical descriptions. You use it to describe your height ('Je mesure un mètre soixante') or the size of common objects. At this stage, the focus is on the masculine gender 'un mètre' and the fact that it represents 100 centimeters. You might use it in simple sentences like 'La table fait un mètre'. It is essential for basic shopping tasks, such as buying a small amount of fabric or checking if a piece of furniture fits in a room. The emphasis is on literal, physical length in everyday contexts. Learners should also recognize the word on signs, like '500 mètres' for a nearby location. It is one of the first technical words a student learns because the metric system is so central to French life. You don't need to worry about poetic meters or complex scientific definitions yet; just focus on 'un mètre' as a standard length roughly the size of a long stride. Practice saying your height and the length of your bed or desk to get comfortable with the word. Remember, the 's' in 'mètres' is silent, so 'un mètre' and 'deux mètres' sound very similar, which can be tricky for beginners. Just listen for the number preceding it to know if it's plural.

At the A2 level, you expand your use of 'mètre' to more practical, real-world situations. You start using it for 'le bricolage' (DIY) and more detailed descriptions. You should be able to ask for things 'au mètre' in a shop, such as 'Je voudrais deux mètres de cette nappe'. You also learn to use it with dimensions: 'longueur' (length), 'largeur' (width), and 'hauteur' (height). For example, 'Cette armoire fait deux mètres de haut'. At this level, you should also be comfortable with 'mètre carré' (m²) for describing the size of a room or an apartment, which is a very common topic in French conversations about housing. You might say, 'Ma chambre fait douze mètres carrés'. You also begin to see 'mètre' in sports contexts, like 'le 100 mètres' or 'le 50 mètres'. The grammar becomes slightly more complex as you use it with verbs like 'mesurer' and 'faire'. You should also be aware of the common homophones 'mettre' and 'maître' to avoid spelling mistakes in your writing. A2 learners are expected to navigate a hardware store or a fabric shop and use 'mètre' to get exactly what they need. It's about moving from simple identification to functional application in daily chores and hobbies.

At the B1 level, 'mètre' becomes a tool for more precise and varied communication. You use it in professional or semi-professional contexts, such as describing a renovation project or a technical specification. You should be able to discuss 'mètres cubes' (m³) for volume, perhaps when talking about water consumption or moving boxes. Your vocabulary expands to include related terms like 'métrage' (the total length in meters) and 'délimiter' (to mark out in meters). You might use 'mètre' in more abstract ways, such as 'à quelques mètres de la solution' (a few steps/meters from the solution). In discussions about the environment or geography, you'll use 'mètre' to describe altitudes ('3000 mètres d'altitude') or the depth of the ocean. You are also expected to understand the historical and cultural significance of the meter in France—how it was a product of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. You might read articles about 'le mètre étalon' and its history. At B1, you should be able to explain the metric system to someone who uses imperial units, using 'mètre' as your base. Your pronunciation should be more refined, correctly handling liaisons in phrases like 'trois mètres environ'. You are now using the word not just as a label, but as part of a broader system of French logic and history.

At the B2 level, 'mètre' is used with technical fluency. You can participate in detailed discussions about architecture, urban planning, or engineering where 'mètre' is the standard unit. You understand the nuances of 'mètre carré' versus 'mètre linéaire' (linear meter) in commercial contexts. In literature, you begin to explore 'le mètre' as a rhythmic element in poetry. You can analyze a poem and identify its 'mètre', such as the decasyllable or the alexandrine. You also use the word in more sophisticated idiomatic expressions and figurative language. For instance, you might discuss 'le mètre ruban' as a metaphor for someone who is overly precise or rigid. You are comfortable with scientific prefixes and can discuss 'nanomètres' or 'micromètres' in the context of technology or medicine. Your writing should be flawless regarding the accent and gender. You can also handle complex sentence structures involving measurements, such as 'Bien que la pièce ne fasse que quelques mètres carrés, elle semble spacieuse grâce à la lumière'. At B2, 'mètre' is no longer just a word you 'know'; it is a word you 'wield' with precision across various domains of knowledge, from the physical sciences to the humanities.

At the C1 level, your understanding of 'mètre' reaches a high degree of cultural and linguistic sophistication. You can engage in deep literary analysis of 'la métrique' (the study of poetic meters), discussing how a poet might break the 'mètre' for stylistic effect. You understand the subtle differences between 'mètre' and 'cadence' or 'rythme'. In professional fields like law or high-level commerce, you can navigate the complexities of 'le métrage Loi Carrez' in real estate contracts without hesitation. You use 'mètre' in highly abstract and metaphorical ways, perhaps in a philosophical discussion about the 'mètre' of human existence or the 'mètre' as a symbol of human desire to categorize the infinite. You are aware of the word's etymology and its connection to other 'metron' derivatives in French, using this knowledge to decipher obscure technical terms. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from that of a native speaker, including the use of slang or very specific jargon, such as 'faire du mètre' in certain industries to mean producing a lot of repetitive work. At C1, you appreciate the 'mètre' as both a rigid scientific necessity and a flexible artistic tool, moving between these two worlds with ease and elegance.

At the C2 level, you have a total mastery of 'mètre' in all its forms—scientific, literary, historical, and metaphorical. You can lecture on the history of the 'mètre' as a tool of French cultural imperialism or as a triumph of universalism. You can write complex poetry that plays with 'le mètre' in innovative ways, or critique such works with academic rigor. You understand the most obscure uses of the word, such as in music theory or advanced mathematics. In professional settings, you can lead projects where 'mètre' is the fundamental unit of calculation, handling all the linguistic and technical nuances that come with it. You might use the word in high-level political discourse, perhaps discussing the 'mètre' by which a government's success should be measured. Your command of the word includes an awareness of its regional variations across the Francophonie and its evolution over centuries. For a C2 speaker, 'mètre' is a multifaceted diamond of a word, reflecting the history of science, the beauty of art, and the precision of the French mind. You can use it to express the most minute physical detail or the most expansive philosophical concept, always with perfect grammatical and stylistic accuracy.

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mètre in 30 Sekunden

A masculine noun meaning 'meter', the standard unit of length (100 cm).
Used for measuring height, distance, and dimensions of objects.
Refers to the physical tool (tape measure) used by builders and tailors.
Also signifies the rhythmic structure in poetry (e.g., alexandrine).

The word mètre is the cornerstone of the French and international metric system. At its most fundamental level, it represents a unit of length equivalent to 100 centimeters or approximately 3.28 feet. However, in the French language, its utility extends far beyond a simple numerical value. It refers to the standard of measurement, the physical tool used to measure (like a tape measure), and even the rhythmic structure in poetry. Understanding 'mètre' is essential for daily life in France, from buying groceries to discussing the height of the Eiffel Tower.

Scientific Definition: The metre is defined as the length of the path travelled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. This precision ensures that a 'mètre' in Paris is exactly the same as a 'mètre' in Tokyo.

Cette table mesure exactement un mètre de large.

In everyday French, when someone asks for a 'mètre', they might be asking for the tool itself. If you are at a hardware store (un magasin de bricolage), you might look for a 'mètre ruban' (tape measure) or a 'mètre pliant' (folding ruler). The word is masculine, so we always say 'le mètre' or 'un mètre'. This is a common point of confusion for beginners who might accidentally use the feminine 'la', but 'la mètre' does not exist in French. The concept of the meter was born during the French Revolution as a way to unify the disparate measuring systems used across the country, symbolizing equality and reason.

Physical Tool: The 'mètre ruban' is the flexible tape measure used by tailors and builders alike. It is an indispensable tool in any French household for 'le bricolage' (DIY projects).

Le couturier utilise son mètre pour prendre les mesures du client.

Beyond physical length, 'mètre' appears in various compound words and prefixes. 'Kilomètre' (1000 meters), 'centimètre' (1/100th of a meter), and 'millimètre' (1/1000th of a meter) are all part of the same linguistic family. In the world of literature, 'le mètre' refers to the poetic meter, the number of syllables in a line of verse. For example, the 'alexandrin' is a famous French poetic 'mètre' consisting of twelve syllables. This demonstrates the word's versatility, moving from the rigid world of physics to the fluid world of art.

Poetic Context: In French versification, 'le mètre' determines the rhythm of the poem. It is the count of 'syllabes prononcées'.

L'alexandrin est un mètre classique de la poésie française.

Il faut acheter deux mètres de tissu pour faire cette robe.

Finally, the word is used in sports and geography. We talk about 'le 100 mètres' in athletics or the altitude of a mountain in 'mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer'. It is a word that grounds the French speaker in physical reality, providing a scale for the world around them. Whether you are measuring your height, the distance to the next bakery, or the rhythm of a song, 'mètre' is the essential tool for quantification in the French-speaking world.

Le record du monde du 100 mètres est impressionnant.

Using 'mètre' correctly involves understanding its grammatical gender and its role as a unit of measure. As a masculine noun, it is preceded by 'le', 'un', or 'ce'. When used to specify a quantity, it often follows a number: 'cinq mètres', 'dix mètres'. Unlike English, where 'foot' can sometimes be used in the singular for measurements ('a six-foot pole'), in French, 'mètre' always takes an 's' in the plural if the number is greater than one: 'deux mètres'.

Grammar Rule: Always use the masculine: 'Le mètre'. Pluralize with an 's': 'Des mètres'. When describing dimensions, use 'de': 'Une piscine de 25 mètres'.

La pièce fait trois mètres sur quatre.

When you want to express height or length, you have several options. You can say 'Je mesure un mètre soixante-dix' (I am 1.70m tall). Note that in French, we don't usually say 'un mètre et soixante-dix', we just state the numbers. For objects, you might say 'Cette corde mesure dix mètres de long' or 'La profondeur est de deux mètres'. The preposition 'de' is crucial here to link the measurement to the dimension being described (longueur, largeur, profondeur, hauteur).

Common Constructions: [Object] + mesurer + [Number] + mètres. OR [Object] + faire + [Number] + mètres. 'Faire' is very common in spoken French: 'Le mur fait deux mètres'.

Vendez-vous ce tissu au mètre ?

In more technical or professional settings, 'mètre' is used with high precision. An architect might speak of 'mètres carrés' (square meters) for area or 'mètres cubes' (cubic meters) for volume. These are essential for real estate and construction. When talking about the tool, 'Prends le mètre' usually implies 'take the measuring tape'. If you need to be specific, you can say 'le mètre-ruban' for the flexible one or 'le mètre pliant' for the wooden one that folds into sections.

Area and Volume: Mètre carré (m²) for surface area. Mètre cube (m³) for volume. These are masculine: 'Un mètre carré'.

L'appartement fait soixante mètres carrés.

Il a sauté plus de deux mètres en hauteur.

Finally, remember that 'mètre' is also used in figurative expressions. 'À quelques mètres' means 'a few meters away' or 'very close'. 'Faire les cent pas' is a related idiom meaning to pace back and forth, but if you say 'il est à cent mètres', it literally means he is 100 meters away. The word is functional, precise, and ubiquitous in every French person's vocabulary.

La gare se trouve à seulement cinq cents mètres d'ici.

You will encounter the word 'mètre' in almost every corner of French life. In the morning, you might hear the weather report mentioning 'une houle de trois mètres' (a three-meter swell) on the coast. In the city, signs indicate distances: 'Centre-ville à 800 mètres'. In schools, children learn the 'système métrique' from a young age, using 'une règle d'un mètre' (a meter ruler) in their geometry classes. It is the language of physical space in France.

In the City: Road signs, parking instructions, and public transport maps all use 'mètre' to define proximity and limits.

Attention, le plafond est bas : deux mètres maximum.

If you enjoy 'le bricolage' (DIY) or 'la couture' (sewing), 'mètre' will be your most used word. At 'Leroy Merlin' or 'Castorama' (popular French hardware stores), you'll hear customers asking for 'un mètre de tuyau' or 'des planches de deux mètres'. At a fabric store, the salesperson will ask, 'Combien de mètres en voulez-vous ?'. It is the unit of commerce for anything sold by length. Even in sports, particularly athletics and swimming, the 'mètre' is the standard: 'le 50 mètres nage libre' or 'le saut de quatre mètres'.

At the Shop: Used for buying rope, fabric, cables, or wood. 'Vendu au mètre' is a common sign.

Je cherche un mètre ruban pour mesurer la fenêtre.

In real estate, 'mètre' is perhaps most crucial. When looking for an apartment in Paris, you will constantly hear about 'le prix au mètre carré' (the price per square meter). This is the standard way to evaluate property value. A real estate agent might say, 'Cet appartement fait trente mètres carrés, mais il est très bien agencé'. Here, 'mètre' is not just a measure of length, but a measure of wealth and lifestyle. It defines the very space people live in.

Real Estate: 'Mètre carré' is the standard for floor space. 'Loi Carrez' is a French law specifically about measuring these meters in property sales.

Le prix du mètre carré a encore augmenté à Paris.

Il y a 800 mètres de dénivelé jusqu'au sommet.

Finally, in literature or radio discussions about culture, you might hear 'mètre' in the context of poetry. A critic might discuss the 'mètre' of a classic play by Racine or Molière. While less common in daily street talk, it is a mark of an educated speaker to understand 'mètre' as a rhythmic unit. Whether in the physical world of construction or the abstract world of art, 'mètre' is a word that structures the French experience.

Le poète respecte rigoureusement le mètre de ses vers.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is the spelling. In British English, it is 'metre', but in American English, it is 'meter'. In French, it is always mètre with a grave accent on the first 'e'. Forgetting the accent or swapping the 'e' and 'r' at the end is a common written error. Another major hurdle is the gender. Many learners assume that units of measure might be feminine, but 'mètre' is strictly masculine: le mètre.

Spelling & Gender: Mistake: 'La mètre' or 'metré'. Correct: 'Le mètre'. The accent grave (è) is essential for the correct pronunciation /mɛtʁ/.

Incorrect: J'ai acheté une mètre de tissu. Correct: J'ai acheté un mètre.

Confusion with homophones is another trap. 'Mètre' sounds exactly like 'maître' (master/teacher) and 'mettre' (to put/place). While the context usually makes the meaning clear, in writing, they are often confused. 'Il faut mettre le mètre sur le bureau du maître' (You must put the meter on the teacher's desk) is a classic sentence to practice the differences. Always double-check your spelling: 'mètre' for measurement, 'mettre' for the verb, and 'maître' for the person.

The Three M's: Mètre (unit), Mettre (verb), Maître (noun/person). They sound identical but have very different roles in a sentence.

Ne confondez pas : 'Je vais mettre' (verb) et 'un mètre' (noun).

In plural forms, learners often forget the 's'. While you don't hear the 's' in 'deux mètres', it must be there in writing. Conversely, some learners try to pluralize the word when it's part of a compound adjective, but in French, 'un film de trois heures' or 'un ruban de deux mètres' follows standard pluralization rules for the noun. Also, be careful with 'mètre carré'. Both words must be pluralized: 'des mètres carrés'.

Pluralization: Singular: un mètre carré. Plural: deux mètres carrés. Both the unit and the adjective 'carré' take an 's'.

Cette maison fait cent mètres carrés.

Je prends le métro (subway) pour aller acheter un mètre (ruler).

Finally, when expressing height, avoid using 'de haut' if you've already used 'mesurer'. 'Il mesure deux mètres' is sufficient. Adding 'de haut' at the end is possible ('Il mesure deux mètres de haut') but 'Il est deux mètres haut' is a direct translation from English and is incorrect in French. Stick to the 'mesurer' or 'faire' constructions for natural-sounding French.

Dites : 'L'arbre fait dix mètres' ou 'L'arbre mesure dix mètres'.

The word 'mètre' belongs to a large family of measurement terms. The most immediate relatives are its sub-units and multiples. 'Le centimètre' (cm) is one-hundredth of a meter, used for small objects. 'Le millimètre' (mm) is one-thousandth, used for extreme precision. On the larger side, 'le kilomètre' (km) is one thousand meters, used for distances between cities. All these words share the '-mètre' suffix and are masculine.

Metric Family: Millimètre (mm), Centimètre (cm), Décimètre (dm), Mètre (m), Décamètre (dam), Hectomètre (hm), Kilomètre (km). All are masculine.

Un kilomètre est égal à mille mètres.

In terms of synonyms for the tool, you might use 'une règle' (a ruler), though a 'ruler' is usually rigid and shorter (20-30cm). For longer distances, 'un ruban à mesurer' or 'un mètre-ruban' is the specific term for a tape measure. In a more general sense, 'une mesure' refers to any measurement or dimension. While 'mètre' is a specific unit, 'mesure' is the abstract concept. For example, 'prendre les mesures' means to take the measurements of a room.

Tools Comparison: Règle: Rigid, for drawing/school. Mètre-ruban: Flexible, for DIY/sewing. Odomètre: For measuring distance traveled by a vehicle.

Ce film est un court-métrage de quinze minutes.

There are also technical instruments ending in '-mètre' that measure specific things: 'un thermomètre' (temperature), 'un baromètre' (air pressure), 'un altimètre' (altitude), and 'un périmètre' (the distance around a shape). These words all derive from the Greek 'metron', meaning 'measure'. Understanding this root helps you decode dozens of French words related to science and math. Even 'le diamètre' (diameter) follows this pattern.

Measuring Devices: Thermomètre, Baromètre, Voltmètre, Ampèremètre. These are all masculine nouns used in scientific contexts.

Le thermomètre indique qu'il fait très froid dehors.

Calculez le périmètre de ce carré.

In summary, 'mètre' is the parent word for a vast array of terms. Whether you are measuring distance, temperature, or the length of a film, the concept of the 'measure' is central. By mastering 'mètre', you unlock the door to the entire metric system and the technical vocabulary of the French language.

Le diamètre du cercle est de cinq centimètres.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

Informell

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Beispiele nach Niveau

La table mesure un mètre.

The table measures one meter.

Mesurer is used here to indicate dimension.

Je mesure un mètre soixante.

I am 1.60 meters tall.

In French, we don't say 'and' between meters and centimeters.

Le tapis fait deux mètres.

The rug is two meters long.

'Faire' is a common alternative to 'mesurer'.

C'est à cent mètres d'ici.

It is 100 meters from here.

'À' indicates distance from a point.

Le mur a un mètre de large.

The wall is one meter wide.

'De large' specifies the dimension (width).

Donnez-moi un mètre de pain.

Give me a meter of bread.

Used here for a humorous or specific quantity.

Il court le 50 mètres.

He runs the 50 meters.

Used as a noun for a specific race.

Prends le mètre ruban.

Take the tape measure.

'Mètre ruban' is a compound noun.

Ma chambre fait dix mètres carrés.

My room is ten square meters.

'Mètres carrés' is used for area.

Je voudrais trois mètres de ce tissu bleu.

I would like three meters of this blue fabric.

'De' is used after the quantity.

La piscine mesure vingt-cinq mètres de long.

The pool is twenty-five meters long.

'De long' specifies length.

Il a sauté un mètre cinquante.

He jumped 1.50 meters.

Direct object of the verb 'sauter'.

Le plafond est à deux mètres du sol.

The ceiling is two meters from the floor.

Expressing distance between two points.

Utilise un mètre pour mesurer la fenêtre.

Use a meter (ruler) to measure the window.

'Un mètre' refers to the tool.

Le magasin est à quelques mètres.

The shop is a few meters away.

'Quelques' indicates an indefinite small number.

Cette étagère fait un mètre de large.

This shelf is one meter wide.

'De large' is the standard way to express width.

Le réservoir contient un mètre cube d'eau.

The tank contains one cubic meter of water.

'Mètre cube' is used for volume.

Le sommet est à 4000 mètres d'altitude.

The summit is at 4000 meters of altitude.

'D'altitude' is used for height above sea level.

Il faut respecter un mètre de distance.

One meter of distance must be respected.

'De distance' specifies the type of measure.

Le métrage de ce film est impressionnant.

The length of this film is impressive.

'Métrage' refers to the total length.

Nous avons acheté dix mètres linéaires de bois.

We bought ten linear meters of wood.

'Mètre linéaire' is used in construction.

La nappe phréatique est à dix mètres de profondeur.

The water table is ten meters deep.

'De profondeur' specifies depth.

Le coureur a gagné de quelques mètres.

The runner won by a few meters.

'De' indicates the margin of victory.

Vérifiez le métrage avant de couper.

Check the measurement before cutting.

'Métrage' here means the act of measuring.

L'alexandrin est un mètre de douze syllabes.

The alexandrine is a meter of twelve syllables.

Refers to poetic rhythm.

Le prix au mètre carré est exorbitant ici.

The price per square meter is exorbitant here.

'Au' indicates the unit of pricing.

Le navire a un tirant d'eau de huit mètres.

The ship has a draft of eight meters.

Technical term for depth under water.

Il a fallu un mètre étalon pour calibrer l'appareil.

A standard meter was needed to calibrate the device.

'Mètre étalon' refers to the reference standard.

La précision est de l'ordre du millimètre.

The precision is on the order of a millimeter.

Using sub-units for technical precision.

Le poète joue avec le mètre pour créer une tension.

The poet plays with the meter to create tension.

Metaphorical/Artistic use.

La crue a atteint six mètres hier soir.

The flood reached six meters last night.

Used for water levels.

Il y a un dénivelé de 500 mètres sur ce sentier.

There is a 500-meter elevation gain on this trail.

'Dénivelé' is a common hiking term.

L'analyse de la métrique révèle une structure complexe.

The analysis of the metrics reveals a complex structure.

'Métrique' is the noun for the system of meters.

Il a fallu des mètres de paperasse pour conclure l'affaire.

It took meters of paperwork to close the deal.

Hyperbolic/Figurative use.

Le mètre ruban de sa conscience ne laissait rien passer.

The tape measure of his conscience let nothing pass.

Highly figurative/Literary.

La loi Carrez définit le métrage de la surface habitable.

The Carrez law defines the measurement of living space.

Legal/Technical jargon.

Le mètre est l'unité de base du Système International.

The meter is the base unit of the International System.

Formal scientific definition.

Chaque vers suit un mètre rigoureux et immuable.

Each verse follows a rigorous and immutable meter.

Literary context.

Le projet a été abandonné à quelques mètres du but.

The project was abandoned a few meters from the goal.

Idiomatic/Figurative.

Le métrage linéaire est crucial pour le calcul des coûts.

Linear measurement is crucial for cost calculation.

Professional/Economic context.

Le mètre, en tant qu'étalon universel, symbolise l'idéal révolutionnaire.

The meter, as a universal standard, symbolizes the revolutionary ideal.

Philosophical/Historical analysis.

L'oscillation du pendule servit jadis à définir le mètre.

The oscillation of the pendulum once served to define the meter.

Historical scientific context.

La déconstruction du mètre classique a ouvert la voie au vers libre.

The deconstruction of the classical meter paved the way for free verse.

Literary history.

Il existe une corrélation entre le métrage et la perception temporelle.

There is a correlation between measurement and temporal perception.

Abstract philosophical thought.

Le mètre n'est qu'une convention humaine face à l'infini.

The meter is but a human convention in the face of the infinite.

Existential context.

L'exactitude du mètre est remise en question à l'échelle quantique.

The accuracy of the meter is questioned at the quantum scale.

Advanced scientific theory.

Le métrage filmique influe sur la narration cinématographique.

Film length influences cinematographic narration.

Media theory.

Le mètre est le socle sur lequel repose l'architecture du monde moderne.

The meter is the foundation upon which the architecture of the modern world rests.

Metaphorical/Sociological.

Häufige Kollokationen

mètre carré

mètre cube

mètre ruban

mètre pliant

mètre étalon

prix au mètre

vendu au mètre

quelques mètres

cent mètres

mètre linéaire

Häufige Phrasen

au mètre près

à quelques mètres

faire les cent pas

mesurer un mètre

prendre le mètre

un mètre de haut

un mètre de large

un mètre de long

le 100 mètres

mètre par mètre

Wird oft verwechselt mit

mètre vs maître

mètre vs mettre

mètre vs métro

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

Leicht verwechselbar

mètre vs

Satzmuster

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

So verwendest du es

abbreviation

The abbreviation is 'm' (no period).

tool vs unit

Both the unit and the tool are called 'mètre'.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'la mètre' instead of 'le mètre'.
Writing 'meter' (English spelling) instead of 'mètre'.
Forgetting the 's' in 'mètres' for plural quantities.
Confusing 'mètre' with 'métro' (subway).
Saying 'un mètre et soixante' instead of 'un mètre soixante' for height.

Tipps

Gender Consistency

Always remember that 'mètre' is masculine. This applies to all its derivatives like 'kilomètre' and 'centimètre'. Even if you are measuring a feminine noun like 'la table', the unit remains 'un mètre'. Practice saying 'un mètre' until it becomes natural. It is one of the most stable genders in the French language.

The Grave Accent

The grave accent on the 'è' is not just for show. It tells you to pronounce the 'e' as an open sound, like the 'e' in 'bed'. Without the accent, the pronunciation would change. Always include it in your writing to be accurate. It is the same sound as in 'père' or 'mère'.

Faire vs Mesurer

In casual conversation, French people often use the verb 'faire' instead of 'mesurer'. For example, 'Ma chambre fait dix mètres'. Both are correct, but 'faire' sounds more natural in everyday speech. Use 'mesurer' for more formal or precise contexts. Both verbs take the masculine 'mètre' as an object.

Mètre Carré

When talking about apartments, always use 'mètre carré'. It is the standard unit for living space in France. If you say an apartment is '30 mètres', people will understand, but '30 mètres carrés' is the correct term. It is essential for understanding real estate ads. Remember to pluralize both words: 'mètres carrés'.

Don't confuse with 'Mettre'

The verb 'mettre' (to put) has two 't's and no accent. The noun 'mètre' has one 't' and a grave accent. They sound identical, so you must rely on context when listening. In writing, be very careful to use the correct one. 'Je vais mettre le mètre ici' is a good practice sentence.

Metric Pride

The metric system is a point of national pride in France. It was invented there during the Revolution. Avoid using inches or feet when speaking French, as most people will not understand them. Always convert your measurements to meters or centimeters. It shows respect for the local culture and standards.

Liaison Check

While rare, listen for a liaison if 'mètres' is followed by a word starting with a vowel. For example, 'deux mètres environ' might sound like /mɛtʁ-z-ɑ̃viʁɔ̃/. This 'z' sound is the only time you will hear the plural 's'. It makes the speech flow more smoothly. However, in casual talk, it is often skipped.

Mètre Linéaire

In construction or when buying shelving, you might hear 'mètre linéaire'. This refers to a one-meter length of a product, regardless of its other dimensions. It is common for items like kitchen counters or wood planks. Knowing this term will help you in hardware stores. It is often abbreviated as 'ml'.

Abbreviation Rule

The official abbreviation for 'mètre' is a simple 'm'. Do not put a period after it (like 'm.') unless it is at the end of a sentence. For square meters, use 'm²' and for cubic meters, use 'm³'. This is the standard in all French-speaking countries. It is clean and professional.

Cent Pas

The idiom 'faire les cent pas' (to pace back and forth) literally means 'to do the hundred steps'. While it doesn't use the word 'mètre', it is the related way to describe walking a short distance repeatedly. If you want to use 'mètre' figuratively, you can say 'à quelques mètres' to mean 'very close'.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'Meter' in a 'Metro'—both are French words for measuring and moving.

Wortherkunft

Greek 'metron' (measure) via Latin 'metrum'.

Kultureller Kontext

Classical French poetry is defined by its 'mètre'.

The meter was born from the French Revolution to replace feudal units.

Property is always discussed in 'mètres carrés'.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"Combien de mètres fait cette pièce ?"

"Quelle est ta taille en mètres ?"

"Où est le mètre ruban ?"

"Le prix au mètre carré est cher, non ?"

"Tu cours le 100 mètres ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décrivez votre chambre en mètres carrés.

Imaginez un monde sans le mètre.

Quel est l'objet le plus long que vous possédez en mètres ?

Avez-vous déjà utilisé un mètre ruban pour un projet ?

Pourquoi le système métrique est-il utile ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It is always masculine: 'le mètre'. Even if you are measuring a feminine object like 'une porte', you say 'un mètre'. This is a common rule for units of measurement in French. Remember to use 'le' or 'un' every time. There is no feminine version of this word.

You write 'mètres carrés'. Both words must be in the plural if there is more than one. For example, 'vingt mètres carrés'. In writing, you can also use the abbreviation 'm²'. It is used for measuring the area of floors or land.

A 'mètre ruban' is a tape measure. It is a flexible tool used by tailors, builders, and for DIY projects. The word 'ruban' means ribbon, referring to the flexible nature of the tool. It is an essential item in a French toolbox. You can find them in different lengths, like 3m or 5m.

No, the 's' is silent in 'mètres'. Whether it is 'un mètre' or 'deux mètres', the pronunciation remains /mɛtʁ/. The only exception is if a liaison occurs with a following vowel, but this is rare. Focus on the open 'e' sound and the final 'r'.

It means 'by the meter'. It is used when buying items like fabric, rope, or chain where the price is calculated per meter. You might see a sign saying 'Tissu vendu au mètre'. It indicates that you can choose the exact length you need. It is a very common phrase in shops.

No, the subway is 'le métro' with an 'o' at the end. 'Le mètre' only refers to the unit of measurement or the tool. While they sound somewhat similar, the final vowel sound is different. Be careful not to confuse them when asking for directions. 'Le métro' is for transport, 'le mètre' is for length.

You use the verb 'mesurer'. For example, 'Je mesure un mètre soixante-quinze'. Notice that we don't say 'et' (and) between the meters and centimeters. You just state the numbers directly. It is a very simple and standard construction in French.

An alexandrine is a type of poetic meter. It consists of twelve syllables. In French literature, 'le mètre' refers to the count of syllables in a line of verse. It is the foundation of classical French poetry. Famous playwrights like Molière wrote almost exclusively in this meter.

It was the original physical standard for the meter. It was a bar made of platinum and iridium. It was kept in Sèvres, near Paris, to ensure everyone used the same measurement. Today, the meter is defined by the speed of light, but the 'mètre étalon' remains a historical symbol. It represents the birth of the metric system.

Yes, 'mètre' is a specific unit (like 'inch' or 'foot'), while 'mesure' is the general word for 'measurement'. You 'prenez les mesures' (take the measurements) using a 'mètre' (tool). 'Mesure' is the abstract concept or the act of measuring. 'Mètre' is the concrete standard.