essai

attempt, try

noun eh-SAY Less Common

Also means

essay (literary); trial (sport)

Usage Note

Essai covers a trial attempt (faire un essai = 'to give it a try'), a literary essay (un essai philosophique), and in rugby, a try (marquer un essai). The expression à l'essai means 'on a trial basis'. The verb essayer means 'to try', and un essayage is a clothing fitting.

Examples

"Elle a fait plusieurs essais avant de réussir."

Natural Translation

She made several attempts before succeeding.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Noun Gender: Rules to Guess Right 80%

Guess French noun gender right 80% of the time using word endings: -age, -ment, -eau are masculine; -tion, -té, -ette are feminine. A high-yield system.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Numbers 70, 80, 90 Made Simple

French numbers 70, 80, 90 are soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. Learn three build formulas to make any number 70-99 on the fly.

June 3, 2026 5 min read