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Design and innovation in French

32 words, from beginner to advanced. Tap a word to hear it.

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When discussing design and innovation in French, Design concerns both how an object looks and how it works. Décorer focuses on making something more attractive. Rénover means to refurbish something that already exists, while Reconstruire means to build it again.

Innovant describes something that introduces a new idea or approach. Futuriste describes a style that evokes the future; it does not necessarily imply technical innovation. Prototype is a model used to test a design. Produit en série describes something manufactured in multiple units, without saying whether its design is innovative.

  1. Construire /kɔ̃sˈtʁɥiʁ/ a construit irregular Construct A2Intermediate#
  2. Rénover /ʁenɔˈve/ a rénové Renovate B1Intermediate#
  3. Préfabriqué /pʁefabʁiˈke/ Prefabricated B2Advanced#
  4. Bois d'œuvre /bwa ˈdœvʁ/ le Timber C1Advanced#
  5. Spacieux /spaˈsjø/ Spacious B1Intermediate#
  6. Douillet /duˈjɛ/ Cosy B2Intermediate#
  7. Activer /aktiˈve/ a activé Activate B1Intermediate#
  8. Automatiser /otɔmatiˈze/ a automatisé Automate B2Intermediate#
  9. Démolir /demɔˈliʁ/ a démoli Demolish B1Intermediate#
  10. Reconstruire /ʁəkɔ̃sˈtʁɥiʁ/ a reconstruit irregular Reconstruct B1Intermediate#
  11. Innovant /inɔˈvɑ̃/ Innovative B2Intermediate#
  12. Innovation technologique /inɔvasjɔ̃ tɛknɔlɔˈʒik/ l' pl. les innovations technologiques Technological innovation B2Intermediate#
  13. Révolutionner /ʁevɔlysjɔˈne/ a révolutionné Revolutionise B2Intermediate#
  14. Fonctionnel /fɔ̃ksjɔˈnɛl/ Functional B2Intermediate#
  15. Conventionnel /kɔ̃vɑ̃sjɔˈnɛl/ Conventional B2Intermediate#
  16. Brique /ˈbʁik/ la pl. les briques Brick B1Elementary#
  17. Décorer /dekɔˈʁe/ a décoré Decorate A2Elementary#
  18. Design /diˈzajn/ le pl. les designs Design B1Elementary#
  19. Inventer /ɛ̃vɑ̃ˈte/ a inventé Invent A2Elementary#
  20. Brevet /bʁəˈvɛ/ le pl. les brevets Patent B2Intermediate#
  21. Ingénierie /ɛ̃ʒeniˈʁi/ l' Engineering B2Intermediate#
  22. Structure /stʁykˈtyʁ/ la pl. les structures Structure B1Intermediate#
  23. Déclencher /deklɑ̃ˈʃe/ a déclenché Trigger B2Intermediate#
  24. Extérieur /ɛksteˈʁjœʁ/ l' pl. les extérieurs Exterior B1Intermediate#
  25. Tension /tɑ̃ˈsjɔ̃/ la pl. les tensions Tension B2Intermediate#
  26. Prototype /pʁɔtɔˈtip/ le pl. les prototypes Prototype B2Intermediate#
  27. Incurvé /ɛ̃kyʁˈve/ Curved B2Intermediate#
  28. Décoré /dekɔˈʁe/ Ornate A2Intermediate#
  29. Ultramoderne /yltʁamɔˈdɛʁn/ Ultra-modern B2Intermediate#
  30. Produit en série /pʁɔdɥi ɑ̃ seˈʁi/ Mass-produced B2Intermediate#
  31. Béton /beˈtɔ̃/ le Concrete B1Intermediate#
  32. Futuriste /fytyˈʁist/ Futuristic B2Intermediate#

Rules to remember

  • Design, Prototype and Brevet are masculine nouns. Structure, Brique and Ingénierie are feminine, so a final -e alone does not reveal a noun’s gender.
  • Fonctionnel and Conventionnel are masculine singular adjectives. Their feminine forms double the final l and add -e.
  • In Innovation technologique, the adjective follows the noun and agrees with its feminine gender.

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