la enfance
childhood
C'est la période de la vie où une personne est un enfant, avant de devenir adulte.
Meaning (in English)
Enfance means childhood: the period of life when someone is a child. It can refer both to:
- A life stage: the early years of a person’s life (from infancy through being a child).
- Personal past/memories: someone’s childhood experiences or background (souvenirs d’enfance = childhood memories).
Parts / formation
- Built on enfant (“child”) + the noun-forming suffix -ce, which creates an abstract noun indicating a state or period.
- Related words: enfant (child), enfantin / enfantine (childish; childlike).
French synonyms
- jeunesse (youth; sometimes overlaps, but is broader and can include adolescence)
- petite enfance (early childhood)
- bas âge (very early age; rather formal/old-fashioned)
French antonyms
- âge adulte / l’âge adulte (adulthood)
- maturité (maturity)
- vieillesse (old age), depending on the contrast intended
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Examples
Elle raconte souvent des histoires de son enfance.noun
She often tells stories about her childhood.
Mon enfance était très heureuse.noun
My childhood was very happy.
As-tu gardé des photos de ton enfance ?noun
Have you kept photos from your childhood?
Les souvenirs d'enfance restent gravés dans notre mémoire pour toujours.noun
Childhood memories remain engraved in our memory forever.
Chaque enfant mérite une enfance paisible et pleine de jeux.noun
Every child deserves a peaceful childhood full of games.
Pendant son enfance, elle aimait beaucoup lire sous le grand arbre du jardin.noun
During her childhood, she loved reading under the big tree in the garden.
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