French

Noun

enfant m, f ‎(plural enfants)

1. child (someone who is not yet an adult)
2. child (offspring)

Related terms

• enfance

Derived terms

Usage notes

Rarely used as a feminine noun

See also

• fille
• garçon

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French enfant.

Noun

enfant m (plural enfanz)

1. child

Descendants

• French: enfant

Occitan

Alternative forms

• enfan

Etymology

Probably a borrowing from Latin īnfāns, īnfāntem.

Noun

enfant m (plural enfants)

1. child

Old French

Alternative forms

• anfant
• infant (10th century)

Etymology

Probably a borrowing from Latin īnfāntem, accusative singular of īnfāns. The nominative form enfes derives from the Latin nominative form īnfāns.

Pronunciation

• (oblique singular) early IPA^(key): /ɛ̃n.fãnt/, later IPA^(key): /ãn.fãnt/ (after lowering of nasalized vowels)
• (nominative singular) early IPA^(key): /ɛ̃n.fəs/, later IPA^(key): /ãn.fəs/

Noun

enfant m ‎(oblique plural enfanz, nominative singular enfes, nominative plural enfant)

1. child
   • 13th century, Herman de Valenciennes, Assomption Nostre Dame, page 8, column 1, line 28:

     totes les puceles & trestuit li enfant

     All the young women and all the children

Related terms

• enfance

Descendants

• Middle French: enfant
  • French: enfant