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commun
/kɔ.mɛ̃/
common, shared
Nous avons beaucoup de points communs.
We have a lot of things in common.
neutral
Shared by two or more people or groups; belonging to everyone.
C'est un ami commun à tous les deux.
He is a friend common to both of us.
Often used with 'avoir en commun' (to have in common).
neutral
Ordinary, not special or rare; found frequently.
C'est un problème commun.
It is a common problem.
Can imply mediocrity depending on context.
informal
Vulgar, lacking refinement or good taste.
Il a des manières très communes.
He has very common/vulgar manners.
Used pejoratively to describe behavior or speech.
Collocations
avoir en communto have in commonle plus grand commun dénominateurthe greatest common denominatorsens communcommon sense
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish Shared vs. Ordinary
If describing a trait shared by people, use 'commun' as 'shared'. If describing quality, it often means 'ordinary' or 'commonplace'. Check if the context implies possession (shared) or frequency/quality (ordinary).
Gold Rule
Agreement
As an adjective, 'commun' must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies (e.g., commune, communs, communes).
Word Origin
From Latin 'communis', meaning 'shared by all or many'.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the nuance: 'commun' can mean 'shared' (positive/neutral) or 'ordinary/vulgar' (negative). Context determines the tone.
Word Breakdown
commun
shared/common
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais