une âme

/yn‿am/
nounIntermediate a soul
literary

The spiritual or immaterial part of a person, often associated with consciousness, personality, or moral character.

Elle a une âme sensible.

She has a sensitive soul.

💡

Often used in philosophical, religious, or poetic contexts to describe the essence of a person.

literary

The essence or spirit of a place, object, or idea.

Ce vieux bâtiment a une âme.

This old building has a soul.

💡

Used metaphorically to describe something that feels alive or deeply meaningful.

Collocations

avoir une âmeto have a soulune âme purea pure soulune âme sensiblea sensitive soul

Related Phrases

perdre son âmephrase
to lose one's soul
une âme en peinephrase
a tormented soul

💡Pro Tip

Poetic Usage

'Une âme' is frequently used in literature and poetry to evoke deep emotional or spiritual qualities.

Gold Rule

Gender Agreement

'Âme' is feminine, so adjectives must agree (e.g., 'une âme pure,' not 'un âme pur').

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'anima,' meaning 'breath, soul, life,' derived from Proto-Indo-European root *h₂enh₁- 'to breathe.'

📝Usage Notes

In French, 'une âme' is often used in a more abstract or poetic sense than in English, emphasizing the moral or spiritual essence of a person or thing.

Word Breakdown

âme
soul
root
+
une
a (feminine singular)
article
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais