orphelinat

orphanage

noun or-fuh-lee-NAH Rare

Usage Note

Orphelinat is formed from orphelin (orphan) plus the suffix -at indicating an institution. The final t is silent. Un orphelin/une orpheline is an orphan — learners often encounter both words together in literature and film. The word is used exclusively for residential institutions caring for children without parents.

Examples

"L'orphelinat accueille vingt enfants."

Natural Translation

The orphanage takes in twenty children.

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