météore

meteor

noun meh-teh-OR Rare

Origin: From Greek meteoros, 'high in the air'.

Also means

meteorite

Usage Note

Météore refers to the luminous trail of a meteoroid burning up in the atmosphere — what English speakers call a 'shooting star'. The related météorite is a fragment that actually reaches the ground. The adjective météorique (meteoric) is used metaphorically in French just as in English: une ascension météorique (a meteoric rise). Note: météore should not be confused with météo (weather forecast).

Examples

"Nous avons observé un météore traverser le ciel."

Natural Translation

We watched a meteor cross the sky.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Liaison Rules: When to Link Words (and Not To)

French liaison links a silent final consonant to the next vowel. Learn the obligatory, forbidden, and optional rules, plus the s→z and d→t sound shifts.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Filler Words: Euh, Bah, Du Coup, Quoi

French filler words like euh, bah, du coup, and quoi make you sound fluent, not lazy. Learn what each one does, where it goes, and how to use them naturally.

June 4, 2026 6 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

Je t'aime vs Je t'adore: I Love You in French

Je t'aime is the real romantic I love you; je t'adore means warm fondness, not romance. Here's the person-vs-thing rule and the bien trap that flips it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read