profondeur

depth

noun proh-fohn-DUR Less Common

Origin: Latin profunditas

Usage Note

Profondeur is used both literally (la profondeur de la mer — 'the depth of the sea') and figuratively (la profondeur d'une réflexion — 'the depth of a reflection'). The adjective is profond (m) / profonde (f). En profondeur is a common adverbial phrase meaning 'in depth' or 'thoroughly'.

Examples

"La profondeur du lac dépasse cent mètres."

Natural Translation

The depth of the lake exceeds one hundred metres.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

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

FrenchNow

French Filler Words: Euh, Bah, Du Coup, Quoi

French filler words like euh, bah, du coup, and quoi make you sound fluent, not lazy. Learn what each one does, where it goes, and how to use them naturally.

June 4, 2026 6 min read