noun

le an

year

C’est une période de douze mois que la Terre met pour faire un tour complet autour du Soleil.

The word "an" in French means "year." It refers specifically to a period of twelve months or 365 (or 366) days, marking the passage of time.

Differences with synonyms:

Année: Also means "year," but used with a focus on the duration or passage of time within a specific year. "Année" emphasizes the content or experience during that time period (e.g., "l'année 2023," "une bonne année").
An: More often used to count years or with an exact number (e.g., "un an," "trois ans"). It is more neutral and simply signifies an interval of time of one year.

Summary:

Use an when counting or measuring years ("Il a dix ans." he is ten years old).
Use année when emphasizing the concept of the year as a timeframe filled with events or experiences ("Cette année a été difficile." this year has been difficult).