récré
break (school recess), informal shortening of récréation
noun reh-KREH Rare
Origin: Clipped from récréation, from Latin recreatio (restoration, refreshment)
Usage Note
Récré is an informal truncation of récréation used by children and teachers alike to mean the school break period. Saying la récré immediately signals a familiar, child-oriented register. The fuller form la récréation is used in official school documents and by adults in formal speech.
Examples
"Les enfants jouent au foot pendant la récré."
Natural Translation
The children play football during break time.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
7 min read