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veine
/vɛn/
vein
Le sang circule dans les veines.
Blood circulates in the veins.
Medicine
technical
A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart.
L'infirmière a cherché une veine pour la piqûre.
The nurse looked for a vein for the injection.
Anatomical structure.
Engineering
technical
A layer of mineral ore in the earth's crust.
Les mineurs ont découvert une veine d'or.
The miners discovered a vein of gold.
Geological context.
informal
A streak of good luck or a period of success.
Il est dans une bonne veine aujourd'hui.
He is on a roll today.
Used metaphorically to describe sustained success or mood.
literary
A particular style, tone, or genre.
Ce film est dans la veine de Hitchcock.
This film is in the vein of Hitchcock.
Refers to artistic lineage or thematic similarity.
Collocations
être dans une bonne veineto be on a roll / to be in good formdans la veine dein the vein ofveine saphènesaphenous vein
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Medical vs. Metaphorical
Remember that while 'veine' is the anatomical term for a blood vessel, it is also the go-to word for 'luck' in informal speech. If you are talking about a doctor, it is anatomy; if you are talking about winning a game, it is luck.
Gold Rule
Gender Agreement
Veine is a feminine noun (la veine). Adjectives must agree: 'une bonne veine', not 'un bon veine'.
Word Origin
From Latin 'vena', meaning vein.
Usage Notes
In everyday French, 'veine' is frequently used metaphorically to describe luck ('avoir de la veine') or a consistent style ('dans la veine de'). Do not confuse with 'artère' (artery), which carries blood away from the heart.
Word Breakdown
vein
tube-like structure
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais