contrôle

control, check

noun kohn-TROHL Less Common

Also means

test, inspection

Usage Note

Contrôle covers a wide range of meanings: a school test (un contrôle de maths — a maths test), a roadside check (un contrôle de police), or oversight of a system. The verb contrôler means to check, inspect, or keep under control. The circumflex on the 'o' reflects a historical 's' from the older contre-rolle.

Examples

"Il a perdu le contrôle de sa voiture."

Natural Translation

He lost control of his car.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Numbers 1 to 100: Count With Confidence

French numbers 1 to 100 in one complete chart, with pronunciation, the et-un rule, hyphens, and the four-twenties system explained so you can count anywhere.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Je t'aime vs Je t'adore: I Love You in French

Je t'aime is the real romantic I love you; je t'adore means warm fondness, not romance. Here's the person-vs-thing rule and the bien trap that flips it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Greetings: Bonjour, Salut, Coucou Explained

Bonjour, salut, or coucou? Pick the right French greeting every time with a simple two-axis guide to formality and time of day, plus how to say goodbye.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Liaison Rules: When to Link Words (and Not To)

French liaison links a silent final consonant to the next vowel. Learn the obligatory, forbidden, and optional rules, plus the s→z and d→t sound shifts.

June 4, 2026 5 min read