urgent 30초 만에
- Urgent means 'immediate' or 'pressing'.
- It is an adjective: urgent (m), urgente (f).
- Commonly used in 'Il est urgent de...'.
- In a hospital, 'les urgences' means the ER.
The French word urgent (feminine: urgente) is a fundamental adjective that describes something requiring immediate action, attention, or consideration. At its core, it signifies a lack of delay; it is the linguistic embodiment of a ticking clock. In the French-speaking world, understanding the nuance of 'urgent' is vital because it bridges the gap between a simple request and a critical necessity. Unlike 'important', which refers to the weight or value of a task, 'urgent' refers strictly to the temporal pressure associated with it. You might have a task that is important but not urgent (like planning a retirement), and a task that is urgent but not important (like a ringing phone from a telemarketer). In French, this distinction is maintained through the specific use of this adjective in various social and professional registers.
- Temporal Immediacy
- Refers to tasks that must be completed 'tout de suite' (right away). The pressure is external and time-bound.
- Medical Necessity
- In a clinical context, 'urgent' denotes a condition that, while perhaps not life-threatening in the next five seconds, requires rapid intervention to prevent worsening.
- Social Etiquette
- Using 'urgent' in a social request can be perceived as demanding, so it is often softened with 'assez' (quite) or 'plutôt' (rather) unless a true crisis exists.
"Il est urgent d'agir avant que la situation ne devienne incontrôlable."
When we look at the etymology, derived from the Latin urgens, we see the sense of 'pressing' or 'pushing'. This 'push' is what defines the word in modern French. Whether it is an appel urgent (urgent call) or a besoin urgent (urgent need), the word carries a weight of priority that bypasses normal queues or procedures. In administrative French, 'urgent' is often used to bypass standard processing times, though it is frequently overused in corporate settings, leading to the colloquial concept of 'l'urgence de bureau' (office urgency), where everything is treated as a crisis.
"J'ai un message urgent pour le directeur."
The word also adapts to gender and number. For a feminine noun, it becomes urgente (e.g., une affaire urgente). For plural masculine, urgents, and plural feminine, urgentes. This agreement is crucial for A1 learners to master early on, as 'urgent' is one of the most frequently used adjectives in daily survival French, especially when seeking help or navigating bureaucracy.
Using 'urgent' correctly involves more than just placing it after a noun. In French, adjectives usually follow the noun, and 'urgent' is no exception. However, its placement and the structures it inhabits can change the tone of your sentence significantly. For instance, the impersonal construction 'Il est urgent de...' followed by an infinitive is the standard way to express that an action must be taken immediately.
- With Nouns
- Un dossier urgent, une question urgente. Note how the adjective follows the noun and agrees in gender.
- Impersonal Structures
- "Il est urgent que..." requires the subjunctive mood. Example: "Il est urgent que tu viennes."
- Adverbial Form
- The adverb is urgemment, meaning 'urgently'. Use this to modify verbs: "Il faut agir urgemment."
"C'est urgent !" (It's urgent!) - A common exclamation in high-stress environments.
In professional emails, 'urgent' is often used in the subject line. However, to be more polite, one might use 'À traiter en priorité' (To be treated as a priority). If you use 'urgent' too often, it loses its impact—a phenomenon known in French as 'crier au loup' (crying wolf). In the medical field, 'urgent' is a specific classification. When you go to the hospital, you go to 'les urgences'. If your case is 'urgent', you will be seen before those whose cases are 'non-urgents'.
You will encounter 'urgent' in four primary environments: the workplace, the hospital, the news, and daily domestic life. In the workplace, it is the hallmark of the 'deadline culture'. You'll hear managers say, "C'est un dossier très urgent," implying that other work should be set aside. In French corporate culture, the word often carries a subtext of stress and high stakes.
Overheard in a Paris office: "Désolé, je ne peux pas déjeuner, j'ai un truc urgent sur le feu." (I have something urgent on the stove/in progress.)
In the media, 'urgent' is used for 'Breaking News'. On French news channels like BFMTV or France 24, you will see the banner ALERTE URGENCE or simply URGENT flashing across the screen for developing stories. This usage is designed to grab immediate attention and signals a significant event. In daily life, parents might tell their children, "Dépêche-toi, c'est urgent !" when they are late for school. Here, the word is used more loosely to mean 'hurry up'.
- Public Transport
- "En cas d'appel urgent, utilisez la borne." (In case of an urgent call, use the terminal.)
- Radio/TV
- "Nous interrompons ce programme pour une information urgente."
The most common mistake for English speakers is the confusion between the adjective and the noun. In English, we might say 'This is an emergency', but in French, if you say 'C'est un urgent', it is grammatically incorrect because 'urgent' is an adjective. You must say 'C'est une urgence'.
- Gender Agreement: Forgetting to add the 'e' for feminine nouns. It's 'une intervention urgente', not 'urgent'.
- Subjunctive Error: Using the indicative after 'Il est urgent que'. Correct: 'Il est urgent qu'il soit là' (Subjunctive). Incorrect: 'Il est urgent qu'il est là'.
- Overuse: Using 'urgent' for things that are merely 'important'. In French culture, calling everything 'urgent' can be seen as a lack of organization.
To enrich your vocabulary, you should know words that occupy the same semantic space as 'urgent'. Pressant is a great synonym, often used for a 'pressing need' or a 'pressing invitation'. It feels slightly more formal or literary than 'urgent'. Impérieux is even stronger, suggesting a need that cannot be disobeyed (e.g., un besoin impérieux de dormir).
- Immédiat
- Focuses on the lack of time delay. "Un résultat immédiat."
- Crucial / Critique
- Focuses on the importance and the turning point of a situation. "Une étape cruciale."
- Prioritaire
- Used in logistics and tasks. "Ce dossier est prioritaire." (This file is a priority.)
On the opposite end, we have facultatif (optional) or secondaire (secondary). Understanding these nuances allows you to describe the level of pressure more accurately in a French-speaking environment.
How Formal Is It?
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C'est urgent !
It's urgent!
Simple subject + verb + adjective.
J'ai un message urgent.
I have an urgent message.
Adjective follows the masculine noun 'message'.
C'est une question urgente.
It's an urgent question.
Feminine agreement: 'urgente'.
Le docteur est urgent ?
Is the doctor urgent? (meaning: is it an emergency?)
A1 learners often use simple structures like this.
Un appel urgent pour vous.
An urgent call for you.
Noun phrase with adjective.
C'est très urgent.
It's very urgent.
Use of 'très' to intensify.
S'il vous plaît, c'est urgent.
Please, it's urgent.
Polite request with urgency.
Pas urgent.
Not urgent.
Negation without 'ne...pas' in short speech.
Je dois partir, c'est urgent.
I have to leave, it's urgent.
Connecting two simple clauses.
Il y a un problème urgent au bureau.
There is an urgent problem at the office.
Use of 'il y a'.
Elle a besoin d'une réponse urgente.
She needs an urgent answer.
Feminine agreement with 'réponse'.
Ce n'est pas très urgent, ne t'inquiète pas.
It's not very urgent, don't worry.
Negative structure 'ne...pas'.
Où sont les urgences ?
Where is the emergency room?
Noun 'urgences' used in plural for ER.
J'ai un rendez-vous urgent à midi.
I have an urgent appointment at noon.
Time expression with adjective.
Pouvez-vous envoyer ce colis de façon urgente ?
Can you send this package urgently?
Phrase 'de façon urgente' (in an urgent way).
C'est un cas urgent.
It's an urgent case.
Masculine noun 'cas'.
Il est urgent de réparer cette fuite d'eau.
It is urgent to repair this water leak.
Impersonal 'Il est urgent de' + infinitive.
Nous avons reçu une demande urgente de la part du client.
We received an urgent request from the client.
Complex preposition 'de la part de'.
Agissez urgemment pour éviter le pire.
Act urgently to avoid the worst.
Adverb 'urgemment'.
Est-ce vraiment urgent ou peut-on attendre demain ?
Is it really urgent or can we wait until tomorrow?
Contrastive question.
La situation devient urgente à cause de la tempête.
The situation is becoming urgent because of the storm.
Verb 'devenir' (to become).
Il a un besoin urgent d'argent.
He has an urgent need for money.
Noun 'besoin' + adjective.
C'est une affaire urgente qui demande toute votre attention.
It's an urgent matter that requires all your attention.
Relative clause with 'qui'.
Je vous appelle pour un motif urgent.
I am calling you for an urgent reason.
Formal use of 'motif'.
Il est urgent que le gouvernement prenne des mesures.
It is urgent that the government takes measures.
Subjunctive 'prenne' after 'Il est urgent que'.
Face à cette crise, une réponse urgente s'impose.
Faced with this crisis, an urgent response is necessary.
Pronominal verb 's'imposer'.
Le caractère urgent de la situation ne fait aucun doute.
The urgent nature of the situation is beyond doubt.
Noun phrase 'le caractère urgent'.
Il a fallu traiter les dossiers les plus urgents en priorité.
It was necessary to treat the most urgent files as a priority.
Superlative 'les plus urgents'.
Bien que ce soit urgent, nous devons rester calmes.
Although it is urgent, we must remain calm.
Conjunction 'bien que' + subjunctive.
Cette mesure est jugée urgente par les experts.
This measure is deemed urgent by experts.
Passive construction 'est jugée'.
L'appel urgent à la solidarité a été entendu.
The urgent call for solidarity was heard.
Abstract noun 'solidarité'.
Il est devenu urgent d'agir pour le climat.
It has become urgent to act for the climate.
Impersonal structure in the past.
L'impératif urgent de la transition écologique ne peut plus être ignoré.
The urgent imperative of the ecological transition can no longer be ignored.
High-level vocabulary 'impératif'.
Il est d'une nécessité urgente que nous revoyions nos priorités.
It is of urgent necessity that we review our priorities.
Formal structure 'être d'une nécessité'.
La rhétorique de l'urgent occulte parfois l'important.
The rhetoric of the urgent sometimes hides the important.
Using 'l'urgent' as a substantive noun.
Sous la pression d'un calendrier urgent, il a commis une erreur.
Under the pressure of an urgent schedule, he made a mistake.
Prepositional phrase 'sous la pression de'.
Il est urgent que la lumière soit faite sur cette affaire.
It is urgent that light be shed on this matter.
Idiomatic expression 'faire la lumière'.
Le ton urgent de son discours a frappé l'assemblée.
The urgent tone of his speech struck the assembly.
Metaphorical use of 'frapper'.
Malgré le caractère urgent, la procédure doit être respectée.
Despite the urgent nature, the procedure must be respected.
Conjunction 'malgré'.
Une intervention chirurgicale urgente a été pratiquée.
An urgent surgical intervention was performed.
Medical terminology.
L'urgence de l'instant présent s'efface devant l'éternité.
The urgency of the present moment fades before eternity.
Philosophical usage.
Il est urgentissime que nous parvenions à un accord.
It is extremely urgent that we reach an agreement.
Superlative suffix '-issime'.
La sensation d'un péril urgent hantait ses pensées.
The sensation of an urgent peril haunted his thoughts.
Literary style.
Il est urgent que s'opère une prise de conscience collective.
It is urgent that a collective realization takes place.
Reflexive verb in the subjunctive.
L'appel urgent du large l'a poussé à tout quitter.
The urgent call of the sea pushed him to leave everything.
Poetic metaphor 'l'appel du large'.
Il convient de distinguer l'urgent du précipité.
One should distinguish the urgent from the rushed.
Formal verb 'il convient de'.
L'urgence, loin d'être un frein, fut un catalyseur.
Urgency, far from being a brake, was a catalyst.
Complex sentence structure.
L'œuvre de cet auteur répond à un besoin urgent de vérité.
The work of this author responds to an urgent need for truth.
Abstract application.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
C'est urgent !
De toute urgence
En cas d'urgence
Il est urgent de...
Rien d'urgent
Dossier urgent
Appel urgent
Sortie d'urgence
Plan d'urgence
État d'urgence
자주 혼동되는 단어
관용어 및 표현
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'Urgent' is objective (time-based), while 'pressant' is often subjective (feeling-based).
Very high in both spoken and written French.
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In French, people are 'pressés', tasks are 'urgents'.
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The noun 'urgence' is feminine.
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Requires the subjunctive mood.
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Don't use an article before the adjective unless there's a noun.
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'Façon' is feminine, so the adjective must agree.
팁
Agreement
Always match 'urgent' with the noun. 'Une lettre urgente' needs the 'e'.
Synonyms
Use 'pressant' for a more literary or intense feeling of urgency.
Politeness
Avoid overusing 'urgent' in social settings as it can seem pushy.
The Nasal
The 'en' in 'urgent' is a nasal vowel. Don't pronounce the 'n' separately.
Emails
Put [URGENT] in brackets in subject lines for professional clarity.
Emphasis
Stress the last syllable 'gent' to show the importance of the word.
Context
If you hear 'aux urgences', someone is talking about the hospital.
Impersonal
'Il est urgent de...' is more formal than 'C'est urgent de...'.
Cognate
Since it's the same as English, focus on the French pronunciation instead.
Subjunctive
This is a common trap in B2 exams. Remember: 'Il est urgent que tu FASSES' (not fais).
암기하기
어원
Latin
문화적 맥락
French people value their time; calling someone urgently outside of work hours requires a very good reason.
'Les Urgences' is the standard term for the Emergency Room.
In French offices, 'urgent' often appears in email subjects to bypass the hierarchy.
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"Est-ce que c'est urgent ?"
"Qu'est-ce qui est le plus urgent aujourd'hui ?"
"Avez-vous déjà eu une urgence médicale ?"
"Pourquoi tout semble-t-il urgent au travail ?"
"Comment gérez-vous les tâches urgentes ?"
일기 주제
Décrivez une situation urgente que vous avez vécue.
Est-il plus important de faire ce qui est urgent ou ce qui est important ?
Faites une liste de trois choses urgentes à faire cette semaine.
Comment vous sentez-vous quand tout est urgent ?
Écrivez un dialogue entre un patron et un employé sur un dossier urgent.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Yes, they share the same meaning and Latin root, making it a 'true friend'.
You say 'les urgences' (always plural in this context).
It almost always goes after the noun, e.g., 'un message urgent'.
The feminine form is 'urgente', adding an 'e' at the end.
Use the structure 'Il est urgent de' followed by an infinitive.
The adverb is 'urgemment'.
No, you don't say 'I am urgent'. You say 'Je suis pressé' (I am in a hurry).
Yes, that means 'It is an emergency'.
For masculine nouns, it's 'urgents'. For feminine, it's 'urgentes'.
Yes, it is a requirement in standard French grammar.
셀프 테스트 180 질문
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'urgent' is essential for expressing priority and necessity in French. Whether in a medical emergency, a business deadline, or a simple request, it signals that time is of the essence and immediate action is required.
- Urgent means 'immediate' or 'pressing'.
- It is an adjective: urgent (m), urgente (f).
- Commonly used in 'Il est urgent de...'.
- In a hospital, 'les urgences' means the ER.
Agreement
Always match 'urgent' with the noun. 'Une lettre urgente' needs the 'e'.
Synonyms
Use 'pressant' for a more literary or intense feeling of urgency.
Politeness
Avoid overusing 'urgent' in social settings as it can seem pushy.
The Nasal
The 'en' in 'urgent' is a nasal vowel. Don't pronounce the 'n' separately.
예시
C'est une situation urgente, il faut agir vite.
관련 콘텐츠
맥락에서 배우기
health 관련 단어
à condition de
B1On condition that; provided that.
à court terme
B1Short-term, over a short period of time.
à jeun
B1On an empty stomach, before eating.
à l'abri
B1Sheltered; safe from danger or harm.
à l'aide de
A2~의 도움으로, ~을 사용하여.
à l'encontre de
B1Against; contrary to (e.g., advice, rules).
à l'hôpital
B1Located or being in a hospital.
à long terme
B1Long-term, over a long period of time.
à risque
B1At risk of harm, illness, or danger.
à titre
B1As a (e.g., as a preventive measure); by way of.
