What does propre in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word propre in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use propre in French.

The word propre in French means clean, well-groomed, toilet trained, own, own, clean, tidy, suitable for + [gerund or noun], suitable to + [infinitive], peculiar to, specific to, particular to, particularity, peculiarity, pride, self-esteem, both literally and figuratively, literally, both literally and figuratively, Well, that's nice!, personal equity, own equity, own account, clean copy, on your own initiative, by your own admission, on your own initiative, of your own invention, personally, in person, in your own right, clean energy, be your own boss, capital stock, now I'm in a fine mess, proper motion, proper noun, possess in your own right, for yourself, for your own benefit, play at his own game, caught out at your own game, proper to each, fit for purpose, shiny as a new penny, neat and tidy, polish up, delivered by hand, delivered personally, collection, form your own opinion, proper sense, smell clean, smell fresh, eigenvalue. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word propre

clean

adjectif (lavé, pas sale)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Prends ce verre, il est propre. J'ai lavé la salle de bain : maintenant, elle est propre.

Take this glass; it's clean. I've given the bathroom a scrub; it's clean now.

well-groomed

adjectif (personne : qui soigne sa toilette)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

C'est une personne très propre.

He's a very well-groomed person.

toilet trained

adjectif (enfant : qui contrôle ses besoins)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Mon fils a été propre très tard.

My son was toilet trained very late.

own

adjectif (qui appartient à [qqn])

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Chacun de nos enfants a sa propre chambre.

Our children each have their own room.

own

adjectif (qui émane de la personne même)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ce sont ses propres commentaires.

Those are his own remarks.

clean

adjectif (respectueux de l'environnement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Nous devons privilégier les énergies propres.

We need to give priority to clean energy.

tidy

nom masculin (manière soignée)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Il a mis au propre le premier chapitre de son livre.

He has put the first chapter of his book in order.

suitable for + [gerund or noun], suitable to + [infinitive]

adjectif (qui convient pour)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ce sont des champignons propres à la consommation.

These mushrooms are OK to eat.

peculiar to, specific to, particular to

adjectif (spécifique à)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Il a l'enthousiasme propre à son âge.

He has the enthusiasm peculiar to his age.

particularity, peculiarity

nom masculin (spécifique de [qqn], de [qch])

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le rire est le propre de l'homme.

Laughter is a peculiarity of human beings.

pride, self-esteem

nom masculin (fierté)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il a refusé cette aide par amour-propre.

both literally and figuratively

locution adverbiale (selon les sens propres et figurés)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Je veux que mon ex-propriétaire paye, au sens propre comme au figuré !

literally

locution adverbiale (selon l'acception première)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

both literally and figuratively

locution adverbiale (selon les sens propre et figuré)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Je veux que mon ex-propriétaire paye, au sens propre comme au figuré !

Well, that's nice!

(familier, ironique (désapprobation) (ironic)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Tu as embrassé le copain de ta meilleure amie pendant qu'elle était en vacances : c'est du propre ! Comme ça, Julien, le proviseur t'a surpris en train de regarder dans les douches des filles : c'est du propre !

personal equity, own equity

nom masculin (fonds propres) (Finance)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les capitaux propres représentent les sommes apportées par les actionnaires.

own account

nom masculin (compte bancaire privé, non commercial)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

clean copy

nom féminin (copie soignée d'un brouillon)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

on your own initiative

locution adverbiale (de soi-même, spontanément)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

by your own admission

locution adjectivale (admis par soi-même)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

on your own initiative

locution adverbiale (de soi-même, spontanément)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

of your own invention

locution adverbiale (qui vient de soi-même)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Je le connais, cette proposition n'est pas de son propre cru.

personally, in person

locution adverbiale (directement, sans intermédiaire)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

in your own right

locution adverbiale (en propriété particulière)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Nous possédons cette maison en propre.

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. My wife's family owns a number of properties, but we have a house of our own.

clean energy

nom féminin (énergie verte, énergie primaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les énergies propres ne produisent pas de polluants.

be your own boss

locution verbale (travailler comme indépendant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

capital stock

nom masculin (souvent au pluriel (capital des actionnaires) (Finance)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

now I'm in a fine mess

(je dois gérer des complications) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

proper motion

nom masculin (mouvement des étoiles) (astronomy)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

proper noun

nom masculin (Grammaire : type de substantif)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les noms propres prennent une majuscule.

possess in your own right

locution verbale (détenir personnellement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

for yourself

locution adverbiale (travail : de façon indépendante) (work)

Avant, Gérard était employé dans une société de bricolage, mais maintenant, il travaille pour son propre compte.

for your own benefit

locution adverbiale (dans son seul intérêt)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

play at his own game

locution verbale (se montrer plus malin que [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

caught out at your own game

locution adjectivale (battu par plus subtil que soi)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

proper to each

locution adjectivale (individuel)

fit for purpose

locution adjectivale (qui peut servir)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

shiny as a new penny

locution adjectivale (familier (très propre) (figurative)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

neat and tidy

locution adjectivale (d'apparence soignée)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

polish up

locution verbale (rédiger proprement depuis un brouillon)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")

delivered by hand, delivered personally

locution adjectivale (donné sans intermédiaire)

collection

nom féminin (remise sans intermédiaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

form your own opinion

(juger par soi-même)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

proper sense

locution verbale (dénomination stricte, non figurée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le sens propre finit parfois par devenir moins courant que le sens figuré.

smell clean, smell fresh

locution verbale (avoir une odeur fraîche)

Après une bonne lessive, mon linge sent bon le propre.

eigenvalue

nom féminin (Maths : facteur de transformation) (mathematics)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le rapport de dilatation est appelé valeur propre.

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