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cinéma

cinema, movie theater

noun see-neh-MAH Less Common

Origin: Short for 'cinématographe', coined by the Lumière brothers in 1895.

Also means

film, movies (as an art form)

Usage Note

Cinéma refers both to the physical place and to the art form of film. Aller au cinéma is the standard phrase for going to the movies. The French film industry is known internationally, and France uses cinéma rather than any anglicism — 'film' is used for individual movies.

Examples

"On va au cinéma ce soir?"

Natural Translation

Are we going to the cinema tonight?

Literal Translation

One goes to-the cinema this evening

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