Published September 5, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Cliché meaning
Cliché is a masculine French noun meaning “cliché” or “stereotype.” It describes an idea, image, or expression that has become predictable through overuse. In French, cliché is also commonly used for stereotypical beliefs about people, places, or cultures. The meaning is very close to English, although English sometimes prefers “stereotype.”
Cliché pronunciation
The IPA pronunciation of cliché is /kli.ʃe/, which sounds approximately like “klee-shay.”
Cliché example sentences
Penser que tous les Français portent un béret est un cliché.
Thinking that all French people wear a beret is a stereotype.
Dire que Paris est seulement romantique, c’est un cliché.
Saying that Paris is only romantic is a cliché.
Il y a beaucoup de clichés dans ce roman.
There are a lot of clichés in this novel.
Il essaie d’éviter les clichés quand il parle de son pays.
He tries to avoid clichés when he talks about his country.
👉 See also: French words used in English — complete list.
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- un stéréotype — a stereotype
- une idée reçue — a preconceived idea, common misconception
- un lieu commun — a commonplace, cliché
- un préjugé — a prejudice, preconceived notion
- banal — commonplace, unoriginal
- stéréotypé — stereotypical
- éviter les clichés — to avoid clichés
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