Level: B2 (upper intermediate)
The French word of the day is le bilan (B2), meaning assessment or review, toll, appraisal, balance sheet/financial statement and medical check-up.
le bilan – IPA pronunciation /bi.lɑ̃/
Le Bilan: Understand This Versatile French Noun

Bilan word origin
The Modern French word le bilan comes from bilanx in Latin. The Latin word bilanx is comprised of the prefix bi- (twice) and lanx (scalepan). The English word “balance” has the same origin.
Bilan example sentences
Le bilan du mois de la société est positif : les bénéficés commencent à rebondir.
The monthly balance sheet of the company is positive. Profits are starting to rebound.
For this first sentence, acceptable translations for le bilan are earnings or financial statement.
Je vais chez le médecin une fois par an pour faire un bilan de santé.
I go to the doctor once per year for a check-up.
This sentence uses the commonly used le bilan de santé, meaning both check-up and medical report.
Le président va bientôt présenter son bilan économique.
The president will soon present his economic results.
For this sentence, other translations for le bilan économique include the economic summary, outcome or balance sheet. In essence, how the economy is doing.
Words related to bilan
- Faire le bilan de to review/assess
- Tirer le bilan de to draw conclusions from
- Dresser un bilan to draw up/prepare an assessment
- Constater to note, notice, observe
- Évaluation (f.) evaluation / assessment
- Résultat (m.): result / outcome
- Constat (m.): observation / finding
- Rapport (m.): report
Continue learning French!
Here are some more B2 (upper intermediate) French word of the day lessons which you can check out: quiconque (anybody, anyone), éprouver (to feel, experience) and flâner (to stroll, laze about).
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