matin

morning

noun mah-TAN Common

Usage Note

Matin is the generic word for morning; matinée refers to the morning as a span of time or a daytime performance. Ce matin means 'this morning,' and demain matin means 'tomorrow morning.' The adjective matinal describes someone who rises early — an English 'early bird' is a lève-tôt or a person who is matinal.

Examples

"Il part tôt le matin."

Natural Translation

He leaves early in the morning.

Literal Translation

He leaves early the morning

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Telling Time in French: Hours, Quarters, 24-Hour

Telling time in French means Il est cinq heures, et quart, et demie, and the 24-hour clock like quatorze heures trente. Read any French schedule.

June 4, 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

Faire in French: To Make, To Do, and More

Faire in French means more than make and do: master faire vs rendre, weather and sports idioms, the causative, and the mistakes English speakers make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read