la face

The French word "face" primarily means "face" in English as well. Here's a detailed explanation:

Meaning:

1. Face (of a person or animal):

   • Refers to the front part of the head that includes the eyes, nose, mouth, and forehead.
   • Example: "Le visage" or "face" — though visage is more formal or literary, face is common in everyday French, especially in phrases like "faire face à" (to face, confront).

2. Face (surface of an object):

   • Refers to any flat surface or side of an object.
   • For example, a cube has six faces (faces).
   • Can also mean a façade or front of a building.

3. In expressions:

   • Face à face means "face to face".
   • Faire face means "to face" or "to confront".

Parts of the Word:

• The word doesn't have roots broken down in common use here but comes from the Latin facies which means "appearance" or "face".

Synonyms:

• For face (human): visage (more literary or formal), figure (less common).
• For the side or surface of an object: côté (side), surface.

Antonyms:

• There is no direct antonym of "face" because it is a concrete noun.
• In the context of an object, the opposite face might be called the "back" (dos or arrière).
• In context of confronting, the opposite of faire face à would be to avoid or evade.

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In summary, "face" in French holds generally the same meanings as in English — both referring to a person's front head part and the surface or side of an object. It is used literally and figuratively in various phrases.