noun

la interrogation

quiz · test

Definition & meaning

The word "interrogation" in French refers to several related concepts depending on the context:

Formal Questioning: It describes the act of questioning someone closely, aggressively, or formally. This is most common in judicial, police, or military contexts where a suspect or witness is being questioned to obtain information.
Education/Testing: In a school environment, it refers to a test, quiz, or examination used to evaluate a student's knowledge. It can be written or oral. Students often use the shortened informal version "interro."
General Inquiry: It can simply mean the act of asking a question or expressing doubt about a specific subject.
Grammar: It refers to the interrogative form of a sentence or the punctuation mark used at the end of a question, known as the "point d'interrogation."

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: "Interrogation" is a feminine noun (une interrogation). Its plural form is "interrogations."

Word origin: The term originates from the Latin word interrogatio, which is the noun form of the verb interrogare. This Latin verb is composed of the prefix inter- (meaning "between" or "among") and rogare (meaning "to ask" or "to request"). It entered the French language in the 12th century and shares the same etymological root as the English word "interrogation."