ces

/se/

determiner★Beginner

formal

Plural demonstrative determiner used to point to specific objects or people near the speaker.

Ces fleurs sont magnifiques.

These flowers are beautiful.

Je connais ces personnes.

I know these people.

💡

Used before both singular and plural nouns in French, though it always refers to plural concepts.

Collocations

ces jours-cithese daysces derniers tempslatelyces chosesthese things

Synonyms

Antonyms

💡Pro Tip

Plural Usage

While 'ces' is technically plural, it can refer to a singular concept when the noun is uncountable or abstract.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'ces', from Latin 'ecce isti' (behold these).

📝Usage Notes

In French, 'ces' is always followed by a noun and can refer to both singular and plural concepts, though it is often used for plural ideas. It is the plural form of 'ce' (this).

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais