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A2 noun 10 min de lectura

cellule

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos cellule en 30 segundos

Explicación cellule in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should recognize 'cellule' as a basic word for a small room or a unit in science. You might see it in very simple contexts, like a picture of a prison in a storybook or a basic biology diagram. The focus at this level is simply knowing that it is a feminine noun ('la cellule') and that it sounds like the English word 'cell'. You don't need to know the complex organizational meanings yet, just the physical ones. Think of it as a 'small box' where something is kept or where life starts. For example, 'La cellule est petite' (The cell is small).

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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'cellule' in more descriptive ways. You can talk about 'une cellule de prison' when discussing news or history. You might also encounter it in descriptions of the human body: 'Le corps a beaucoup de cellules'. You should be able to distinguish between 'une cellule' (a cell) and 'une pile' (a battery), as this is a common mistake for beginners. You can also start using it to describe small groups, like 'une cellule familiale' (a family unit), which is the basic building block of society. Your sentences will become more functional, such as 'Le prisonnier est dans sa cellule'.

At the B1 level, you are expected to understand 'cellule' in professional and technical contexts. You will hear about a 'cellule de crise' (crisis unit) on the news and understand that it means a special team. You might read about 'cellules photovoltaïques' in articles about the environment and renewable energy. You should be comfortable with the adjective form 'cellulaire' (cellular) and how it modifies other nouns. You can explain simple biological processes using the word, and you understand the metaphorical use of 'cellules grises' to mean intelligence. You are moving beyond the physical room to the abstract concept of a functional unit.

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At the B2 level, you can use 'cellule' in nuanced discussions about science, politics, and ethics. You might debate the use of 'cellules souches' (stem cells) in medicine, expressing your opinion on bioethics. You understand the administrative structure of 'cellules' within a government or large company, such as a 'cellule de veille' or 'cellule de recrutement'. You can follow complex news stories about 'cellules terroristes' or 'cellules dormantes' and understand the security implications. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use synonyms like 'alvéole' or 'unité' correctly depending on the specific field you are discussing.

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At the C1 level, you have a deep grasp of the word's historical and philosophical connotations. You can use 'cellule' in literary analysis to describe themes of confinement or in sociological essays to discuss the 'cellule de base' of a community. you understand technical jargon in specialized fields, like 'cellule de détection' in engineering or 'cellule d'urgence médico-psychologique' in healthcare. You can play with the word's meanings in creative writing, using it to represent both a prison and a place of biological creation. You are aware of the subtle differences between 'cellule', 'cachot', and 'loge' in various historical contexts.

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At the C2 level, 'cellule' is a tool for precise and sophisticated expression. You can use it in academic research, perhaps in molecular biology or political science, with total accuracy. You understand the etymological roots and how they influence modern usage across different Romance languages. You can appreciate and use the word in complex metaphors, such as describing the 'cellule' of a poem or the 'cellule' of a musical composition. Your understanding is so complete that you can navigate the most technical or archaic uses of the word in legal codes or ancient texts without hesitation, recognizing it as a fundamental concept of organization and life.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

cellule en 30 segundos

Cellule is a feminine noun in French primarily meaning a biological cell, the smallest unit of life in all living organisms.
It also refers to a small, confined room such as a prison cell or a monk's private quarters in a monastery.
The word describes a specialized organizational unit or team, like a crisis management group or a political subcommittee.
In technology, it identifies components like solar cells or sensors that convert light or other signals into energy.

The French word cellule is a fascinating and versatile noun that functions as a fundamental building block in both biological sciences and sociological structures. At its core, it refers to a small, enclosed space or a basic unit of a larger system. For an English speaker, the most direct translation is 'cell', and like its English counterpart, it carries a variety of meanings depending on the context in which it is deployed. In biology, it is the microscopic unit of life. In a legal or carceral context, it refers to the small room where a prisoner is held. In a political or organizational sense, it represents a small, often secretive or specialized group of individuals working toward a specific goal. Understanding the nuances of cellule requires looking at how the French language treats the concept of 'the smallest part of a whole'.

Biological Context: In the realm of science, la cellule is the structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently. French speakers use this term in school from a young age, discussing la cellule végétale (plant cell) and la cellule animale (animal cell). The word evokes the complexity of life hidden within simplicity.

Le biologiste observe la division d'une cellule au microscope pour comprendre la croissance des tissus.

Carceral and Architectural Context: Historically, the word stems from the Latin cellula, meaning a small room. This meaning persists today in the context of prisons or monasteries. A cellule de prison is a confined space. It suggests isolation and restriction. Interestingly, in architecture, it can also refer to a small compartment in a larger structure, such as the 'cells' in a honeycomb, though French often prefers alvéole for bees.

Socially and politically, cellule describes a small unit of a larger organization. You will frequently hear about a cellule de crise (crisis unit) in the news when the government or a company is dealing with an emergency. This usage highlights the idea of a focused, efficient group of people working in a dedicated 'compartment' of the administration. Similarly, in the context of espionage or activism, a cellule dormante (sleeper cell) refers to a small group waiting for instructions to act. This versatility makes cellule a high-frequency word across many domains of French life, from the laboratory to the police station and the government office.

Après l'accident, le gouvernement a immédiatement mis en place une cellule de crise pour coordonner les secours.

Using cellule correctly in a sentence involves understanding its gender—it is a feminine noun (la cellule, une cellule)—and its specific collocations. Because it spans so many disciplines, the adjectives and verbs that accompany it vary significantly. In scientific writing, you will often see it paired with verbs of action like se diviser (to divide), se multiplier (to multiply), or muter (to mutate). In a social context, verbs like constituer (to constitute) or démanter (to dismantle) are common, especially when discussing political or criminal cells.

Scientific Syntax: When describing biological processes, the noun often acts as the subject. For example: La cellule souche possède la capacité de se transformer en n'importe quel type de tissu. (The stem cell has the ability to transform into any type of tissue.) Here, the adjective souche (stem) is vital for specificity.

Chaque cellule de notre corps contient l'intégralité de notre code génétique.

In more abstract or organizational sentences, cellule often appears in prepositional phrases. A common structure is cellule de + [noun]. For instance, cellule de recrutement (recruitment unit) or cellule de veille (monitoring unit). These phrases function as compound nouns where the second noun defines the purpose of the cell. In these cases, the word cellule implies a dedicated space or team.

Elle travaille au sein de la cellule diplomatique de l'Élysée.

Describing Confinement: When referring to a prison cell, the word is often used with verbs of movement or containment. Être enfermé dans une cellule (to be locked in a cell) or regagner sa cellule (to return to one's cell). It is important to note that a 'padded cell' in a psychiatric hospital is called une cellule matelassée.

Finally, the word is used in technology. A cellule photoélectrique is a sensor that reacts to light. In this context, the word implies a single unit of sensing capability. When building sentences about technology, cellule is often the object being installed or replaced: Il faut remplacer la cellule de la platine vinyle (The cartridge/stylus cell of the turntable needs to be replaced).

Le prisonnier passait vingt-trois heures par jour seul dans sa cellule.

You will encounter cellule in a wide variety of daily and specialized environments. In the educational system, students hear it constantly during biology lessons from middle school onwards. Teachers explain the difference between le noyau (the nucleus) and la membrane of the cell. If you watch French documentaries like 'C'est pas sorcier', you will hear detailed explanations of how les cellules function within the human body.

The Evening News (Le JT): The news is perhaps the most common place to hear the organizational sense of the word. During a natural disaster, a health crisis (like COVID-19), or a major strike, journalists will report: 'Une cellule de crise a été activée au ministère de l'Intérieur.' This implies a high-level, rapid-response team is in place. You also hear it in crime reporting: 'La police a démantelé une cellule de trafic de stupéfiants.' (The police dismantled a drug trafficking cell.)

À la télévision, on parle souvent de la cellule familiale comme du socle de la société.

In cinema and literature, the word frequently appears in 'polar' (detective) novels or prison dramas. Characters might discuss life in la cellule or the psychological toll of being en cellule de dégrisement (the 'drunk tank' or 'sobering-up cell'). It creates an atmosphere of confinement and tension. In espionage thrillers, the 'sleeper cell' (cellule dormante) is a common plot device, representing a hidden threat within a peaceful environment.

In the professional world, particularly in large corporations, you will hear about specialized 'cells' or units. A company might have a cellule de veille technologique whose job is to monitor new inventions and competitors. In this context, it sounds modern and efficient. Finally, in the energy sector, as France moves toward greener energy, the term cellule photovoltaïque is heard in discussions about solar panels and environmental policy.

Le technicien installe une nouvelle cellule sur le panneau solaire du toit.

For English speakers learning French, the word cellule is mostly a 'true friend', but there are several traps related to pronunciation, gender, and specific technical translations. The first mistake is often phonetic. The French u in cellule (/se.lyl/) is a tight, rounded sound that doesn't exist in English. Beginners often pronounce it like the 'oo' in 'pool', which can make it sound like celloule (not a word) or confuse it with other sounds. It is essential to practice the /y/ sound to be understood clearly.

The 'Battery' Trap: In English, we often use 'cell' to refer to a single battery (like an AA cell). If you say J'ai besoin d'une cellule pour ma télécommande, a French person will be very confused. For batteries, the correct word is une pile. Cellule is only used in technology for sensors (photocells) or specific scientific components.

Attention : Ne dites pas « la cellule de ma montre est morte », dites « la pile de ma montre est morte ».

Another common error involves gender. Many scientific terms in French ending in '-e' are feminine, but learners often default to masculine. Saying un cellule instead of une cellule is a frequent mistake. This gender agreement must carry through to adjectives: la cellule souche (feminine) vs le noyau cellulaire (masculine adjective derived from the noun). Notice how the adjective cellulaire changes the ending but the noun cellule remains the anchor.

Finally, learners sometimes over-apply the word cellule to any small group. While it works for 'crisis units' or 'terrorist cells', it is not used for a 'cell' of a spreadsheet (like in Excel). In that context, the correct French word is une cellule—wait, actually, that is one place where it DOES match! However, for a 'cell' in a honeycomb, as mentioned before, alvéole is much more natural. Using cellule for bees will sound like you're talking about a bee prison!

Dans un tableau Excel, on clique sur une cellule pour entrer des données.

To enrich your French vocabulary, it's helpful to know words that are related to cellule but offer different shades of meaning. Depending on whether you are talking about science, sociology, or architecture, you might choose a more precise alternative. For example, in biology, while cellule is the standard, you might also hear unité (unit) or élément (element) when discussing the composition of a system.

Cellule vs. Alvéole: In a biological or structural context, alvéole is used for small cavities. While a cellule is a functional living unit, an alvéole is often a structural pocket. Think of alvéoles pulmonaires (air sacs in the lungs) or the alvéoles of a beehive. Use cellule for the living part and alvéole for the hollow space.

L'abeille dépose le miel dans chaque alvéole du rayon.

Cellule vs. Cachot: In the context of a prison, cellule is the neutral, modern term. Cachot, on the other hand, refers to a dark, often underground dungeon or a punishment cell (solitary). If you want to sound like a historical novel or describe a particularly grim place, cachot is the word. If you are talking about a modern jail, stick with cellule.

When talking about a small group of people, cellule implies a formal or secret structure. If you just mean a small group, use groupe, comité (committee), or équipe (team). A cellule de crise is a formal emergency unit, but a petit groupe de travail is just a small working group. The word noyau (nucleus/core) is also a great alternative when you want to describe the central, most important part of a group: le noyau dur de l'organisation (the hard core of the organization).

Le noyau de l'atome est entouré d'électrons, tout comme le noyau de la cellule contient l'ADN.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The biological use of the word 'cell' (and 'cellule') was coined by Robert Hooke in 1665. He chose the word because the microscopic structure of cork reminded him of the small rooms (cells) occupied by monks in a monastery.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /sɛ.lyl/

US /sɛ.lyl/

French words generally have stress on the final syllable of the word or phrase.

Rima con

bulle nulle libellule pilule formule pendule bascule crépuscule

Errores comunes

Pronouncing 'u' as 'oo' (like 'cell-ool').
Making the 'c' hard like 'k'.
Pronouncing the final 'e'.
Confusing the sound with 'sel' (salt).
Nasalizing the first syllable unnecessarily.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize because it looks like the English word 'cell'.

Escritura 3/5

Requires remembering the feminine gender and the double 'l'.

Expresión oral 4/5

The French 'u' sound in the second syllable is challenging for English speakers.

Escucha 3/5

Clear sound, but can be confused with 'sel' if the ending is not heard well.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

petit corps prison groupe vie

Aprende después

noyau tissu organisme molécule génétique

Avanzado

mitose cytoplasme carcéral interministériel photovoltaïque

Gramática que debes saber

Feminine noun agreement

La petite cellule est isolée.

Noun complements with 'de'

Une cellule de crise.

Pluralization of nouns ending in -e

Les cellules se multiplient.

Adjective placement (usually after)

Une cellule cancéreuse.

Compound nouns with hyphens

Une cellule-souche.

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Ejemplos por nivel

C'est une petite cellule.

It is a small cell.

Uses the feminine article 'une' and the feminine adjective 'petite'.

La cellule est ronde.

The cell is round.

Subject-verb-adjective agreement.

Où est la cellule ?

Where is the cell?

Basic question structure.

Il y a une cellule ici.

There is a cell here.

Use of 'il y a' for existence.

Ma cellule est grise.

My cell is grey.

Possessive adjective 'ma' (feminine).

Regarde la cellule !

Look at the cell!

Imperative form of 'regarder'.

La cellule de prison est sombre.

The prison cell is dark.

Noun complement 'de prison'.

Une cellule, deux cellules.

One cell, two cells.

Plural formation with 's'.

Le corps humain a beaucoup de cellules.

The human body has many cells.

Use of 'beaucoup de' followed by plural noun.

Le prisonnier reste dans sa cellule.

The prisoner stays in his cell.

Preposition 'dans' for enclosure.

La cellule familiale est importante.

The family unit is important.

Adjective 'familiale' modifying 'cellule'.

On étudie la cellule à l'école.

We study the cell at school.

The pronoun 'on' meaning 'we/people'.

Cette cellule est très petite.

This cell is very small.

Demonstrative adjective 'cette' (feminine).

Il dessine une cellule végétale.

He is drawing a plant cell.

Adjective 'végétale' follows the noun.

La porte de la cellule est fermée.

The cell door is closed.

Double 'de la' construction.

Les cellules se divisent souvent.

Cells divide often.

Reflexive verb 'se diviser'.

Une cellule de crise a été créée hier.

A crisis unit was created yesterday.

Passive voice with 'a été créée'.

Le panneau utilise des cellules photovoltaïques.

The panel uses photovoltaic cells.

Technical adjective agreement.

Il faut utiliser ses cellules grises.

One must use one's grey cells (brains).

Idiomatic expression for thinking.

La cellule de recrutement cherche un chef.

The recruitment unit is looking for a boss.

Noun functioning as an organizational unit.

Elle a passé la nuit en cellule de dégrisement.

She spent the night in the sobering-up cell.

Specific legal term.

Les chercheurs observent la cellule souche.

Researchers are observing the stem cell.

Compound noun 'cellule souche'.

Chaque cellule du tableau contient un chiffre.

Each cell of the table contains a number.

Computational context.

La cellule de veille surveille les réseaux.

The monitoring unit watches the networks.

Professional terminology.

La thérapie génique cible la cellule malade.

Gene therapy targets the diseased cell.

Scientific verb 'cibler'.

La police a démantelé une cellule dormante.

The police dismantled a sleeper cell.

Security/Espionage vocabulary.

La cellule de communication gère l'image du maire.

The communication unit manages the mayor's image.

Abstract organizational role.

L'embryon n'est alors qu'un amas de cellules.

The embryo is then only a cluster of cells.

Restriction 'ne... que'.

Le détenu a été placé en cellule d'isolement.

The inmate was placed in solitary confinement.

Specific carceral term.

La cellule de réflexion propose des réformes.

The think tank proposes reforms.

Metaphorical use for a 'think tank'.

Il y a une anomalie dans la cellule photoélectrique.

There is an anomaly in the photoelectric cell.

Technical/Engineering context.

La cellule de base de l'organisme est l'unité de vie.

The basic cell of the organism is the unit of life.

Definitional structure.

L'écrivain explore la cellule comme métaphore de l'âme.

The writer explores the cell as a metaphor for the soul.

Literary analysis vocabulary.

La cellule de crise interministérielle se réunit d'urgence.

The inter-ministerial crisis unit is meeting urgently.

Complex compound adjective 'interministérielle'.

On assiste à une mutation de la cellule familiale traditionnelle.

We are witnessing a mutation of the traditional family unit.

Sociological discourse.

Le logiciel permet de fusionner plusieurs cellules Excel.

The software allows merging several Excel cells.

Technical/Software terminology.

La cellule de renseignement a intercepté le message.

The intelligence unit intercepted the message.

Espionage/Military terminology.

Cette cellule de détection est d'une précision inouïe.

This detection cell is of an incredible precision.

Adjective 'inouïe' (unheard of/incredible).

Le poète se sent prisonnier de la cellule de ses mots.

The poet feels like a prisoner in the cell of his words.

Figurative/Poetic usage.

La cellule d'appui psychologique aide les victimes.

The psychological support unit helps the victims.

Social service terminology.

L'architecture carcérale repose sur l'agencement des cellules.

Prison architecture relies on the layout of cells.

Specialized academic vocabulary.

Le concept de cellule chez Hooke révolutionna la biologie.

Hooke's concept of the cell revolutionized biology.

Historical/Scientific context.

La cellule de pilotage stratégique définit les objectifs à long terme.

The strategic steering unit defines long-term objectives.

Corporate/Management jargon.

Le passage de l'unicellulaire au pluricellulaire est un saut évolutif.

The transition from unicellular to multicellular is an evolutionary leap.

Evolutionary biology terms.

La cellule diplomatique opère dans le plus grand secret.

The diplomatic cell operates in the utmost secrecy.

Superlative 'le plus grand secret'.

Chaque cellule de l'œuvre picturale contribue à l'harmonie du tout.

Each cell of the pictorial work contributes to the harmony of the whole.

Art criticism terminology.

La cellule de dégrisement est un dispositif de sûreté publique.

The sobering-up cell is a public safety measure.

Formal legal/administrative phrasing.

La prolifération des cellules cancéreuses est un processus complexe.

The proliferation of cancer cells is a complex process.

Oncology terminology.

Colocaciones comunes

cellule souche

cellule de crise

cellule familiale

cellule photovoltaïque

cellule de prison

cellule dormante

cellule de dégrisement

cellule cancéreuse

cellule de veille

cellule nerveuse

Frases Comunes

en cellule

— To be inside a prison cell or confined space.

Le suspect a été placé en cellule.

division cellulaire

— The process by which a cell divides into two.

La division cellulaire est essentielle à la vie.

cellule de base

— The fundamental or primary unit of something.

La famille est la cellule de base de la société.

cellule d'urgence

— A group formed quickly to handle a sudden problem.

Une cellule d'urgence a été mise en place après l'inondation.

cellule grise

— Metaphorical reference to the brain or intelligence.

Il faut faire travailler ses cellules grises.

cellule de recrutement

— A department dedicated to hiring new staff.

La cellule de recrutement trie les CV.

cellule de réflexion

— A think tank or advisory group.

La cellule de réflexion publie un nouveau rapport.

cellule d'isolement

— A cell used for solitary confinement.

Il a passé trois jours en cellule d'isolement.

cellule photoélectrique

— A sensor that detects light.

La porte s'ouvre grâce à une cellule photoélectrique.

cellule de communication

— A team managing public relations or media.

La cellule de communication prépare le discours.

Se confunde a menudo con

cellule vs pile

Used for batteries. English speakers often mistakenly use 'cellule' here.

cellule vs sel

Means salt. Phonetically similar in the first syllable.

cellule vs alvéole

Used for honeycomb or lung air sacs. More specific than 'cellule'.

Modismos y expresiones

"faire travailler ses cellules grises"

— To think hard or use one's intelligence.

Allez, fais travailler tes cellules grises pour résoudre ce problème !

informal/common

"être en cellule de dégrisement"

— To be in the 'drunk tank' to sober up after public intoxication.

Après la fête, il s'est retrouvé en cellule de dégrisement.

neutral

"la cellule familiale"

— The family unit, often used in sociological discussions.

L'importance de la cellule familiale est souvent soulignée.

formal

"une cellule dormante"

— A group of agents waiting for a signal to act.

Le film raconte l'histoire d'une cellule dormante infiltrée.

neutral

"cellule de crise"

— An emergency management team.

La cellule de crise est réunie en permanence.

formal

"cellule de veille"

— A monitoring unit keeping an eye on trends or threats.

Notre cellule de veille a repéré une nouvelle tendance.

business

"division cellulaire"

— The biological process of mitosis/meiosis.

Nous étudions la division cellulaire en cours de biologie.

academic

"cellule souche"

— A stem cell, used in medical research.

La cellule souche peut régénérer des organes.

academic

"mettre en cellule"

— To lock someone in a cell.

Le garde a mis le prisonnier en cellule.

neutral

"cellule de base"

— The core unit of a structure.

La cellule de base de notre projet est la collaboration.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

cellule vs pile

Both translate to 'cell' in certain English contexts (battery cell vs biological cell).

Pile is for stored electrical energy in a small container. Cellule is for biology, prison, or groups.

Ma pile est morte, mais ma cellule sanguine est vivante.

cellule vs selle

Phonetically similar start.

Selle is a saddle for a horse or bike. Cellule is a unit of life or a room.

Je monte sur ma selle pour aller voir les cellules au labo.

cellule vs seau

Beginners might confuse vowel sounds.

Seau is a bucket. Cellule is a cell.

Le prisonnier a un seau dans sa cellule.

cellule vs seuil

Similar looking words for learners.

Seuil is a threshold or doorway. Cellule is the room itself.

Il a franchi le seuil de sa cellule.

cellule vs molécule

Both are small scientific units.

A molecule is a chemical structure; a cell is a biological living unit made of many molecules.

Une cellule contient des millions de molécules.

Patrones de oraciones

La cellule est + [adjectif].

La cellule est petite.

Il y a des cellules dans + [nom].

Il y a des cellules dans le sang.

Le gouvernement a créé une cellule de + [nom].

Le gouvernement a créé une cellule de crise.

Les chercheurs travaillent sur la cellule + [adjectif].

Les chercheurs travaillent sur la cellule souche.

On observe une mutation de la cellule + [adjectif].

On observe une mutation de la cellule familiale.

Le concept de cellule est au cœur de + [nom].

Le concept de cellule est au cœur de la théorie biologique.

Il faut faire marcher ses cellules + [adjectif].

Il faut faire marcher ses cellules grises.

Le prisonnier est enfermé dans sa + [nom].

Le prisonnier est enfermé dans sa cellule.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

cellule

cellularité

unicellulaire

pluricellulaire

Adjetivos

cellulaire

intercellulaire

intracellulaire

Relacionado

noyau

membrane

tissu

organisme

prison

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very high in scientific, legal, and news contexts.

Errores comunes

Un cellule → Une cellule
Cellule is a feminine noun. You must use 'la' or 'une'.
La cellule de ma télécommande est morte. → La pile de ma télécommande est morte.
In French, 'cellule' is not used for standard household batteries. Use 'pile'.
Pronouncing it like 'cell-ool'. → Pronouncing it with the French 'u' sound.
The 'u' sound is distinct. 'Ool' sounds like a different word or is unintelligible.
Une cellule de miel → Une alvéole de miel
While 'cell' is used in English for honeycombs, French uses 'alvéole'.
La cellule de mon cerveau → Ma cellule grise / Mes cellules nerveuses
While technically correct, it's more common to use 'cellule nerveuse' or the idiom 'cellule grise'.

Consejos

Master the 'U'

The 'u' in 'cellule' is the most important part. Practice by saying 'ee' and slowly rounding your lips into an 'o' shape while keeping your tongue in the 'ee' position.

Gender Memory

Think of 'la cellule' as a 'lady's room' to remember it is feminine. Most scientific words ending in -ule are feminine in French.

Not for Batteries

Never use 'cellule' for the things in your remote control. Those are 'piles'. Only use 'cellule' for solar panels or light sensors.

Listen to the News

You will hear 'cellule de crise' very often in French news. It's a great way to hear the word used in a high-level, professional context.

Grey Cells

When someone says 'fais marcher tes cellules grises', they are telling you to think! It's a common and friendly way to encourage someone to solve a problem.

Spelling Check

Remember the double 'l'. It's 'ce-ll-u-le'. The double 'l' comes from the Latin diminutive 'cellula'.

Compound Terms

In biology, 'cellule' is often followed by an adjective: 'cellule animale', 'cellule végétale', 'cellule nerveuse'. Learn these as pairs.

Social Units

Use 'cellule' when talking about the 'building blocks' of society, like the family ('cellule familiale'). It sounds very sophisticated.

Solar Power

If you are interested in green energy, 'cellule photovoltaïque' is a key term to know for reading articles about French ecology.

Context is King

Because 'cellule' has so many meanings, always look at the surrounding words to know if someone is talking about biology, prison, or politics.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'cell' in a 'cellule'. Both start with 'cell' and describe a small unit or room. Imagine a monk in a small room (cellule) looking at a tiny life unit (cellule) through a microscope.

Asociación visual

Visualize a honeycomb. Each small hexagon is like a 'cellule'. Now imagine a single human cell inside that hexagon. This links the structural and biological meanings.

Word Web

Biologie Prison Politique Solaire Cerveau Famille Microscope Génétique

Desafío

Write three sentences using 'cellule' in three different contexts: one scientific, one carceral, and one organizational. For example: body, jail, and crisis team.

Origen de la palabra

Derived from the Latin 'cellula', which is the diminutive form of 'cella', meaning a small room, store-room, or hut.

Significado original: A very small room or compartment.

Romance (Latin root)

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 'cellule' in the context of terrorism or crime, as 'cellule terroriste' is a very serious and heavy term in modern French discourse.

English speakers use 'cell' for batteries, but French speakers use 'pile'. This is the most common translation error.

Hercule Poirot's 'petites cellules grises' (Agatha Christie). Robert Hooke's 'Micrographia' where the term was first used for biology. The 'cellule de crise' in the French movie 'L'Exercice de l'État'.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Science Class

Regarder dans le microscope
La membrane cellulaire
Le noyau de la cellule
La division des cellules

News/Politics

Activer une cellule de crise
Une cellule terroriste
La cellule diplomatique
Démanteler une cellule

Legal/Police

Passer la nuit en cellule
Cellule de dégrisement
Cellule d'isolement
Mettre en cellule

Technology

Cellule photovoltaïque
Cellule photoélectrique
Capteur à cellule
Remplacer la cellule

Sociology

La cellule familiale
Cellule de base de la société
L'unité cellulaire
Évolution de la cellule

Inicios de conversación

"Sais-tu combien de cellules il y a dans le corps humain ?"

"Penses-tu que la cellule familiale est en train de changer en France ?"

"As-tu déjà vu une cellule au microscope pendant tes études ?"

"Pourquoi le gouvernement a-t-il créé une cellule de crise selon toi ?"

"Est-ce que tu utilises souvent tes cellules grises pour résoudre des énigmes ?"

Temas para diario

Décrivez ce que vous imaginez à l'intérieur d'une cellule biologique complexe.

Si vous deviez créer une cellule de crise pour un problème mondial, qui choisiriez-vous ?

Réfléchissez à l'importance de la cellule familiale dans votre propre vie.

Imaginez la vie d'un prisonnier dans une petite cellule sombre.

Comment les cellules photovoltaïques peuvent-elles aider à sauver la planète ?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, 'cellule' is most commonly used in biology to mean the basic unit of life. It can also mean a specialized team or a solar component. Context is key to determining if it refers to a prison, biology, or a group.

It is always feminine: 'la cellule' or 'une cellule'. Even when referring to a political cell composed entirely of men, the word remains feminine.

No, for batteries you should use 'pile' (disposable) or 'batterie' (rechargeable). 'Cellule' is only used in technology for things like 'cellules photovoltaïques' (solar cells).

This is a metaphorical expression meaning 'brains' or 'intelligence'. It comes from the grey matter in the brain. It's often used in the context of solving a puzzle or thinking hard.

It is 'une cellule souche'. 'Souche' means 'stump' or 'strain', referring to the origin or base from which other things grow.

Yes, just like in English, the individual boxes in a spreadsheet are called 'cellules'. For example: 'Cliquez sur la cellule A1'.

It is a 'crisis unit' or 'emergency task force'. It consists of a group of experts or officials brought together to handle an urgent situation like a disaster or a scandal.

Yes, 'cellulaire' is the adjective form. It can mean 'cellular' in biology or, in some regions, it refers to mobile phones ('un téléphone cellulaire'), though 'portable' is more common in France.

Yes, in politics or clandestine organizations, a 'cellule' is a small, autonomous group that is part of a larger network. An example is a 'cellule terroriste'.

Yes, 'cellule' is the modern, neutral term for a prison room. 'Cachot' refers to a dark, often underground dungeon or a special punishment cell.

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