Usage Note
Cigarette is a direct borrowing from French into English — the word originated in France as a diminutive of cigare (cigar). The verb fumer means to smoke, and un fumeur/une fumeuse is a smoker. France introduced strict public smoking bans from 2007, though café terraces remain culturally associated with the cigarette.
Examples
"Elle a allumé une cigarette."
Natural Translation
She lit a cigarette.
Related Words
Explore French by topic