13 May 2000

1.1.11.1 Synonyms and homonyms, defined, in L'Huillier, Advanced French Grammar


presentation of L'Huillier's work, by Corry Shores

[Subsection headings are my own]



Monique L'Huillier

Advanced French Grammar

1. Framework

1.1 Parts of Speech



1.1.11 Synonyms, homonyms, derivation and word class shifts


1.1.11.1 Synonyms and homonyms


1.1.11.1.1 Definitions


a) synonyms


A synonym is another word with the identical meaning, or at least a similar one.


Ex:

redouter, craindre, avoir peur de

b) homonyms


There are two classes of homonyms:


b1) homophones


A homophone is a word that shares the same vocal sound with another word, yet it has a different spelling and meaning.


Ex:

saint, sein, seing [signature], sain [sɛ̃]

vin, vain [vɛ̃]

Troie, Troyes, trois, [tʀwa]

au, eau [o]

mer, mère, maire, [mɛʁ]


b2) homographs


A homograph is a word that we spell the same as another word, yet they have unrelated meanings.


Ex:

(un boulet de) canon, un canon (de beauté)






L'Huillier, Monique. Advanced French Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
More information and limited preview available at:


No comments:

Post a Comment