une occasion

The French noun “occasion” is a feminine noun and has several meanings, including (1) a particular time, (2) an opportunity, (3) an event or function, (4) a cause and (5) sometime.

meanings and usage

1. particular time

“Occasion” can refer to a specific or particular time when something happens. In this sense, it often corresponds to “time” or “moment” in English.

examples:

  • Cette occasion m’a permis de revoir mes amis d’enfance.
    (This time allowed me to see my childhood friends again.)
  • Il a raté l’occasion de dire au revoir.
    (He missed the moment to say goodbye.)

2. opportunity

“Occasion” is frequently used to mean an opportunity, a chance to do something.

examples:

  • J’ai eu l’occasion de voyager en Europe l’année dernière.
    (I had the opportunity to travel to Europe last year.)
  • Ne manque pas cette occasion unique!
    (Don’t miss this unique opportunity!)

3. event or function

“Occasion” can also refer to an event, celebration, or function. In this sense, it often implies a special gathering or noteworthy occurrence.

examples:

  • Pour cette grande occasion, ils ont organisé une fête somptueuse.
    (For this grand event, they organized a lavish party.)
  • Quelle belle occasion pour se retrouver en famille!
    (What a wonderful event to get together with family!)

4. cause

In some contexts, “occasion” refers to the cause or reason for something.

examples:

  • Ce problème a été l’occasion d’une discussion approfondie.
    (This issue was the cause of an in-depth discussion.)
  • La pluie a été l’occasion de rester à la maison et de lire.
    (The rain was the reason to stay home and read.)

5. sometime

The French phrase “à l’occasion” can be used to convey the idea of “sometime” or “when the opportunity arises.” For example, if someone says, “On se verra à l’occasion,” it translates to “We’ll see each other sometime,” implying that the meeting will happen when the right moment presents itself.

  • “Tu devrais essayer ce restaurant à l’occasion, il est vraiment excellent.”
    (“You should try that restaurant sometime, it’s really excellent.”)
  • “Je t’enverrai ce livre à l’occasion, ne t’inquiète pas.”
    (“I’ll send you that book sometime, don’t worry.”)

etymology of “occasion”

The word “occasion” comes from the Latin “occasio,” which means “a falling or happening,” derived from “occidere,” meaning “to fall down or befall.” Over time, it evolved to signify a specific time, opportunity, or reason for something to happen.

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

  • Days of the week

    It’s important to know the days of the week in French. Each day has an English translation. Each day also has an original meaning, which may sometimes help you to remember it. French English Original French meaning lundi Monday Day of the Moon mardi Tuesday Day of Mars mercredi Wednesday Day of Mercury jeudi Thursday…

  • humour vs humeur

    Both “humour” and “humeur” are French nouns. But they mean different things. “L’humour” (masculine) means “the humour” or “the comedy.” It corresponds fairly closely to the English word “humour” (or “humor,” in US English). In French culture, especially cultivated and sophisticated French culture, “wit” was seen as more important. The French idea of “wit” is…

  • contredire

    The French verb “contredire” means “to contradict” or “to oppose”. Learn how it is conjugated in the present tense and the passé composé. Interestingly, the “vous” form in the present tense does not follow the example of the verb “dire.” Conjugation in the Present Tense “Contredire” is an irregular verb that follows the pattern of…

  • homeless

    In French, several terms are used to refer to people who are homeless. Some are neutral and administrative, while others are older or more colloquial, and may carry connotations of pity or stigma. The two most commonly encountered terms are SDF and clochard. Other related terms include sans-abri, sans domicile, and marginal. SDF SDF is…

  • six and dix

    In French, the numbers six (6) and dix (10) have pronunciation patterns that often confuse learners. Depending on context, these words can be pronounced with three different sounds: The pronunciation changes depending on: 1. Pronouncing Six and Dix with an “S” Sound This happens when the number is part of a series of numbers being…

  • agrémenter

    The French verb “agrémenter” means to embellish, enhance, or enrich something to make it more pleasant or attractive. Meanings of “Agrémenter” 1. To Embellish or Decorate The primary meaning of agrémenter is to adorn something, making it more visually appealing. 2. To Enhance or Spice Up (Food, Stories, etc.) Agrémenter can also mean adding extra…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *