Skip to content

geste

gesture

noun ZHEST Less Common

Usage Note

Geste is masculine (un geste). A beau geste — literally 'a beautiful gesture' — has been borrowed into English for a noble but ultimately futile act. Faire un geste can mean to make a concession or show goodwill in negotiations, beyond its literal meaning of physical movement.

Examples

"Il fait un geste de la main."

Natural Translation

He makes a gesture with his hand.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic