Level B1 (Intermediate)
The French word of the day is le but (B1), which translates to goal, aim, purpose, objective and target. Note that the final -t is pronounced, which goes against the standard French reading rules.
le but – IPA pronunciation /lə byt/
Word origin
The Modern French word le but likely comes from the Old French word butte, meaning ‘mound’ or ‘knoll’.
Le but example sentences
Avez-vous un but dans la vie ?
Do you have a goal in life?
For this sentence, translations for le but are objective, purpose and aim.
Le but de cette réunion est de formuler une stratégie.
The objective of this meeting is to formulate a strategy.
The expression marquer un but means ‘to score a goal’ in soccer.
Le footballeur a marqué un but.
The soccer player got a goal.
Related nouns
- L’objectif (m.) goal
- La finalité ultimate purpose, ultimate aim
- L’intention (f.) intention
- La visée aim, target
- Le dessein Design, purpose, plan
- La cible target
Related verbs
- Atteindre (un but / un objectif) To reach, to achieve a goal
- Réaliser (un but / un objectif) To achieve, to fulfill, to realize a goal
- Poursuivre (un but / un objectif): To pursue a goal (or objective)
- Fixer (un but / un objectif) To set a goal
- Viser (un but / un objectif) To aim for a goal
- Avoir pour but de To have the goal of
Continue learning French
Now that you’ve mastered le but, check our lesson covering the verb souhaiter, meaning ‘to wish’.
