routine

/ʁu.tin/
daily routine

Ma routine matinale inclut un café et une promenade.

My morning routine includes a coffee and a walk.


neutral

A sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.

Il suit toujours la même routine avant de dormir.

He always follows the same routine before sleeping.

La routine de l'équipe est de commencer à 9h.

The team's routine is to start at 9 AM.

Often used to describe habitual activities in daily life.

Business
formal

A set of customary procedures or activities.

La routine de maintenance est essentielle pour la sécurité.

The maintenance routine is essential for safety.

In professional contexts, refers to standardized procedures.

informal

A boring or unchanging sequence of activities.

Travailler à la chaîne, quelle routine !

Working on an assembly line, what a routine!

Can imply monotony or lack of variety.

Related Phrases

casser la routinephrase
to break the monotony
en routinephrase
as usual, routinely

Pro Tip

Common Mistake: 'Routine' vs 'habitude'

'Routine' implies a structured sequence of actions, while 'habitude' refers to a single habitual action. 'J'ai l'habitude de me lever tôt' (I'm used to waking up early) vs 'Ma routine matinale est de me lever à 6h' (My morning routine is to wake up at 6 AM).

Gold Rule

Using 'routine' in sentences

Always pair 'routine' with a possessive adjective (ma, ta, sa) or a noun (routine de travail). Avoid using it as a standalone noun in informal speech unless referring to a specific context.

Word Origin

From Old French 'route' (road) via Latin 'rupta' (broken, path), influenced by 'route' in Middle English. The sense of 'fixed course' emerged in the 17th century.

Usage Notes

In French, 'routine' can refer to both a positive structured schedule and a negative monotonous pattern. Context clarifies the meaning.

Word Breakdown

rout-
from 'route' (path, way)
root
+
-ine
suffix forming nouns (like '-ing' in English)
suffix
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais