Today we’ll look at the masculine noun accueil, which means welcome, reception and hotel reception desk. Many students have a hard time with the pronunciation of this word. Accueil is related to the verb accueillir (to welcome, to host), which comes from colligere (to gather, bring together) in Latin.
l’accueil
welcome, reception, hotel reception desk
Pronunciation – [akœj]
Accueil – Welcome, Reception
Example sentences
In France, you’ll see the word accueil in most hotel lobbies to indicate the front or reception desk.
Claude et Françoise se sont donné rendez-vous devant l’accueil de l’hôtel.
Claude and Françoise arranged to meet in front of the hotel reception desk.
In French une famille d’accueil can translate to both host family and foster family.
L’étudiant d’échange passe un an dans une famille d’accueil en France.
The exchange student is spending one year in a French host in France.
Accueillant is the present participle of accueillir and means welcoming. A synonym which we covered in another lesson is chaleureux (warm, welcoming).
This final sentence uses the pronoun on, which means “one” or “we”. On is also used to affect a passive voice. Hence, on dit (it’s said).
On dit souvent que les Mexicains sont très accueillants.
It’s often said that the Mexicans are very welcoming.
Related terms
- l’agent d’accueil front desk clerk
- le centre d’accueil welcome center
- la page d’accueil website homepage
- faire un accueil enthousiaste to give an enthusiastic welcome
Related lessons
- Chaleureux – warm, welcoming
- Bienvenue – welcome
- Accueillir – to welcome, host (conjugation chart)
