roman

ByFast French

What does the French word “roman” mean? Is it someone from Ancient Rome? Is it someone who lives in modern Rome? It’s neither – “roman” is the masculine noun meaning “novel” or “fiction” or “books.”

“Le roman” also means “The Romanesque” period of architecture, from the 11th and 12th centuries AD. It can also refer to the “Romance” language that came from popular Latin and preceded French.

You may have come across a feminine French noun, “une nouvelle.” “Une nouvelle” can mean either “a piece of news” or “a short story.” So “un roman” is a novel and “une nouvelle” is a short story. Both are false friends, meaning they are French words that look like English words, but have different meanings from the English words they resemble.

How do you talk about someone from Rome, either ancient or modern? That man is “un romain,” or in the case of a woman, “une romaine.”

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • -ty becomes -té

    ByFast French

    Many French nouns ending in -té match English nouns ending in -ty. Both often come from the same Latin source. The French form usually kept -té, while English often changed it into -ty. Because of this shared history, many pairs look and sound alike and have close meanings. Examples include: This pattern is very common…

  • sont, ont, font, vont

    ByFast French

    In French, certain verbs such as “être” (to be), “avoir” (to have), “faire” (to do/make), and “aller” (to go) have unique conjugation patterns. Interestingly, the third person plural forms (“they” form) of these verbs all end in “ont.” No other French verbs have the “they” form ending in “ont.” This article will explore the present…

  • manger sur le pouce

    ByFast French

    The French saying “manger sur le pouce” translates literally as “to eat on the thumb.” Figuratively, however, it means “to eat quickly,” “to eat rapidly,” or “to eat hastily.” It dates back to the 19th century. People like factory workers and soldiers often ate on the spot, with one hand holding a piece of bread…

  • verb: ranger & se ranger

    ByFast French

    Meanings Differences between “Ranger” and “Se Ranger” The primary distinction between “ranger” and “se ranger” is that “ranger” concerns organizing or tidying objects, while “se ranger” relates to individuals or entities taking up a particular position, figuratively or literally. Conjugation in Present Tense and Passé Composé Let’s examine how “ranger” and “se ranger” are conjugated…

  • le pouvoir

    ByFast French

    The French masculine noun “le pouvoir” translates to “power” or “authority” in English. It comes from the French verb “pouvoir,” meaning “to be able,” or “can.” “Le pouvoir” has its roots in the Latin word “potere,” which means “to be able” or “to have the right.” This Latin term evolved into the Old French “povoir” before…

  • Adjective: paresseux

    ByFast French

    Meaning “Paresseux” is a French adjective used to describe a person or thing as “lazy” or “idle.” Corresponding Noun “La paresse” is a related feminine noun that means “laziness,” “sloth,” or in a medical context, “sluggishness.” Gender & number The adjective “paresseux” takes on different forms depending on the gender and number of the noun…