environnement

environment, surroundings

noun ahn-vee-ron-MAHN Rare

Origin: French environner (to surround) + -ment

Usage Note

Environnement is the standard French term for both the natural environment and one's immediate surroundings or working environment (environnement de travail). The adjective environnemental follows the same form as in English. Environnement also appears in computing: environnement de développement (development environment).

Examples

"Nous devons protéger notre environnement naturel."

Natural Translation

We must protect our natural environment.

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