baptême

baptism, christening

noun bah-TEM Rare

Origin: Greek baptisma (immersion)

Also means

inaugural experience

Usage Note

Baptême refers to the Christian sacrament, but also to any inaugural or 'first time' experience: un baptême de l'air is a first flight, and baptême du feu (baptism of fire) means a difficult first ordeal. The p is silent. The verb is baptiser (to baptise, to name).

Examples

"Le baptême du bébé a eu lieu dimanche."

Natural Translation

The baby's baptism took place on Sunday.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Greetings: Bonjour, Salut, Coucou Explained

Bonjour, salut, or coucou? Pick the right French greeting every time with a simple two-axis guide to formality and time of day, plus how to say goodbye.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Aller + Infinitive: The Easy French Future

Form the French near future in seconds: conjugate aller in the present and add an infinitive. Learn futur proche rules, negation, pronouns, and when to use it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read