moment
Attends un moment, s'il te plaît.
Wait a moment, please.
a brief, unspecified period of time
Je n'ai qu'un moment pour te parler.
I only have a moment to talk to you.
Can refer to a very short or relatively short period, depending on context.
a particular point in time
C'est le moment idéal pour agir.
This is the ideal moment to act.
Often used to refer to a specific or opportune time.
a moment of emotional intensity or significance
Ce fut un moment de grande joie pour eux.
It was a moment of great joy for them.
Used to describe emotionally charged or memorable instances.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Moment' is often used in everyday speech to refer to short periods of time or specific points in time. It is a versatile word that can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Gold Rule
Time Reference
When 'moment' is used to refer to a specific point in time, it often implies that the time is significant or noteworthy.
Word Origin
From Latin 'momentum', meaning 'movement, impulse', derived from 'movere' (to move).
Usage Notes
In French, 'moment' can sometimes be used in a way similar to 'momentum' in English, but this is less common. The word is highly versatile and can refer to both literal and figurative time frames.