What does courant in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word courant in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use courant in French.

The word courant in French means common, ordinary, normal, usual, running, power, power supply, current, branch, wave, in, this, usual, everyday purchases, run, run, go around, rush, rush, hurry, run, be heading for, chase, still be on the loose, still be on the run, race, run through, wander, roam, fly, be in effect, sail, run, scour, comb, roam, against the tide, against the current, against the flow, alternating current, fluent English, hound, current account, current account, countercurrent, countercurrent, cut off the power, power cut, blackout, power outage, airflow, airstream, alternating current, artistic movement, ascending air current, direct current, draught, stream of consciousness, eddy current, tidal current, school of thought, mainstream, course of the month, weak electrical current, strong current, ideological tendency, ideological trend, induced current, ocean current, musical tendency, musical trend, ocean current, philosophical tendency, philosophical trend, political current, over the course of, current account deficit, current density, know, know about, everyday language, everyday speech, not get along well, not get on well, it's going well, things are going well, handrail, bring up to date on , give an update on, current month, swim against the tide, power cut, power failure, blackout, socket, plug socket, socket, current result, be in keeping with a trend, keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with, keep up with 's news, run out, let know, keep up to date about , keep up to date on , keep informed about, keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with, current transformer. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word courant

common

adjectif (usuel, banal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Change ce mot, il est trop courant.

Change this word; it's too common.

ordinary, normal, usual

adjectif (habituel, ordinaire)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Il est courant de passer le nouvel an avec ses amis et Noël avec sa famille. Je paie les dépenses courantes en espèces.

I pay my day-to-day expenses in cash.

running

adjectif (amené par tuyauterie)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Les voisins n'ont plus l'eau courante.

The neighbours have no running water anymore.

power, power supply

nom masculin (flux électrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il faut couper le courant avant toute intervention électrique.

You must disconnect the power (or: power supply) before any electrical job.

current

nom masculin (eau en mouvement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Après les pluies, la rivière a beaucoup de courant.

After the rain, the river's current is very strong.

branch

nom masculin (subdivision d'un parti)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Elle appartient à un courant mineur de ce parti.

She belongs to a minor branch of this party.

wave

nom masculin (mouvement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le président jouit d'un courant de sympathie.

The president is enjoying a wave of sympathy.

in

préposition (pendant, durant)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

J'irai à Paris courant décembre. Les travaux seront effectués courant 2020.

The works will be carried out over 2020.

this

adjectif (en cours)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Je viendrai vous voir le 2 du mois courant.

I'm coming to see you on the 2nd of this month.

usual

adjectif (cours, taux habituel)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

J'ai acheté ces affaires au prix courant.

I bought these items for the usual price.

everyday purchases

nom masculin (usuel, journalier)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")

Pour le courant, j'achète au village.

For everyday purchases, I shop in the village.

run

verbe intransitif (se déplacer vite à pied)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Actuellement, c'est Usain Bolt qui court le plus vite.

Currently Usain Bolt runs faster than anyone else.

run

verbe intransitif (suivre un chemin en courant)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Auparavant, je courais jusqu'à 12 km d'affilée.

I used to run 12 km in one go.

go around

verbe intransitif (figuré (se propager) (informal)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")

La rumeur court que le gouvernement va être remanié.

Rumours are going around that there's going to be a cabinet reshuffle.

rush

verbe intransitif (figuré (se dépêcher)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Pendant les vacances, on peut arrêter de courir. J'ai vraiment besoin de me poser un peu parce que j'ai couru toute la journée entre les réunions au bureau et les activités des enfants.

During the holidays, you can stop rushing around.

rush, hurry

verbe intransitif (figuré (se précipiter)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Le tout Paris a couru voir le dernier film avec Jean Dujardin.

The whole of Paris rushed (or: hurried) to see the latest Jean Dujardin film.

run

verbe transitif (risquer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Vous courez un grave danger en ne respectant pas les consignes.

You're running a serious risk by not following the instructions.

be heading for

verbe transitif indirect (aller rapidement vers [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Si vous les attaquez de front, vous courez à une défaite cinglante.

If you go for a full-frontal attack, you are heading for a painful defeat.

chase

verbe transitif indirect (rechercher)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Il a toujours couru après la fortune.

He's always chased after wealth.

still be on the loose, still be on the run

locution verbale (être en fuite)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

La police a mis tous ses effectifs sur le coup mais à l'heure actuelle, l'assassin court toujours.

The police have put all their officers on the case but at the present time, the killer is still on the loose (or: still on the run).

race

verbe intransitif (participer à une course)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Ce pilote courait sur Ferrari lors du dernier grand prix.

This driver was racing for Ferrari during the last grand prix.

run through

verbe intransitif (littéraire (parcourir)

De multiples sentiers courent de par cette campagne.

A number of paths run through this countryside.

wander, roam

verbe intransitif (aller librement) (figurative)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Il laissait souvent courir ses pensées au lieu de se concentrer.

He would often let his thoughts wander (or: roam) instead of concentrating.

fly

verbe intransitif (figuré (aller vite) (figurative)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Les doigts des secrétaires courent sur le clavier.

The secretaries' fingers fly over the keyboards.

be in effect

verbe intransitif (commencer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Cet accord court depuis le début du mois.

This agreement is in effect from the beginning of the month.

sail

verbe intransitif (marine : faire route)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Cela fait un mois que notre navire court.

Our ship has been sailing for a month now.

run

verbe transitif (participer à une course)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Ce sprinter court le 100 mètres en moins de 10 secondes.

This sprinter runs the 100 metres in under 10 seconds

scour, comb

verbe transitif (parcourir) (figurative: area, list, etc.)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

J'ai dû courir toute la ville pour trouver une boulangerie encore ouverte. La jeune actrice courait les castings.

The young actress went to all the casting sessions.

roam

verbe transitif (littéraire (voyager)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Cet aventurier a couru le monde pendant des années.

This adventurer roamed the world for years.

against the tide, against the current

locution adverbiale (cours d'eau : en remontant)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

against the flow

locution adverbiale (figuré (différemment de la tendance) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

alternating current

nom masculin (type de courant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ce n'est pas du courant continu mais de l'alternatif.

It's alternating current, not direct current.

fluent English

nom masculin (langue anglaise quotidienne)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

hound

nom masculin (chien de chasse poursuivant le gibier)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

current account

nom masculin (familier, courant (compte bancaire de particulier) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Je garde des économies sur le compte courant pour les dépenses des vacances.

I'm keeping some savings in my current account for my holiday spending.

current account

nom masculin (compte bancaire professionnel) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ces recettes seront versées sur le compte courant.

This revenue will be deposited in the current account.

countercurrent

nom masculin (courant de retour)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il existe des contre-courants marins et des contre-courants aériens.

countercurrent

nom masculin (mouvement inverse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les procédés à contre-courant permettent de maintenir la chaleur.

cut off the power

locution verbale (éteindre l'alimentation électrique)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

power cut, blackout, power outage

nom féminin (arrêt d'alimentation électrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Nous n'avons pas pu nous servir de l'ordinateur hier à cause d'une coupure de courant.

airflow, airstream

nom masculin (mouvement d'air)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les planeurs se servent des courants aériens pour voler.

alternating current

nom masculin (type de courant électrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

artistic movement

nom masculin (arts : tendance)

ascending air current

nom masculin (air montant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

direct current

nom masculin (type de courant électrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

draught

nom masculin (souffle de vent) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Si tu restes dans ce courant d'air, tu vas attraper la crève !

If you stay in that draft you will catch a cold!

stream of consciousness

nom masculin (technique littéraire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

eddy current

nom masculin (type de courant électrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

tidal current

nom masculin (courant dû aux marées) (oceanography)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

school of thought

nom masculin (philosophie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

mainstream

nom masculin (mouvance principale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Janine suit le courant dominant de son parti.

course of the month

nom masculin (intérieur d'un mois)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Vous devriez recevoir ce colis dans le courant du mois.

You should receive the parcel within the month.

weak electrical current

nom masculin (courant de quelques mA.)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

strong current

nom masculin (courant de plusieurs kA)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

ideological tendency, ideological trend

nom masculin (mouvement de pensée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

induced current

nom masculin (courant électrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

ocean current

nom masculin (direction de masse d'eau)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

musical tendency, musical trend

nom masculin (tendance musicale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

ocean current

nom masculin (mouvement des masses d'eaux)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

philosophical tendency, philosophical trend

nom masculin (tendance de philosophie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

political current

nom masculin (mouvance d'idée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Bien que frères, ils ne sont pas du même courant politique.

over the course of

(au cours de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Vous recevrez une réponse dans le courant du mois de mars.

current account deficit

nom masculin (déficit du compte courant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

current density

nom féminin (courant circulant en un point donné)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

know

locution verbale (être informé)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Peux-tu lui expliquer la situation ? Elle n'est pas au courant.

Can you explain the situation? She doesn't know.

know about

locution verbale (savoir [qch], être informé de [qch])

Tu peux lui en parler car il est au courant de notre accord.

You can speak to him as he knows about our agreement.

everyday language, everyday speech

nom masculin (langage parlé non soutenu)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

not get along well, not get on well

(figuré (il y a incompatibilité d'humeur) (personal construction)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Alain a changé de travail car le courant ne passait pas avec son nouveau chef.

Alan changed his job as he didn't get on well with his new boss.

it's going well, things are going well

(tout se passe bien)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Le courant passe bien avec notre nouvelle collègue.

handrail

nom féminin

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bring up to date on , give an update on

locution verbale (informer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Jeanne a mis ses enfants au courant de la maladie de leur père.

Jean gave her children an update on their father's illness.

current month

nom masculin (mois en cours)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

swim against the tide

locution verbale (nager en remontant le courant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

power cut, power failure, blackout

nom féminin (arrêt électrique impromptu)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Une panne de courant arrêta les activités durant une demi-heure.

socket, plug socket

nom féminin (dispositif de branchement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Dans la petite chambre, vous avez une prise à côté de la porte et une autre près du lit.

In the small bedroom, there's a socket by the door and another one next to the bed.

socket

nom féminin (prise électrique) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il manque une prise de courant sur ce plan de travail.

current result

nom masculin (comptabilité)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le résultat courant d'une société est la somme du résultat d'exploitation et du résultat financier qu'elle a dégagé sur un exercice comptable.

be in keeping with a trend

(correspondre à une pensée)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with

(s'informer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Mon fils se tient au courant des avancées en recherche spatiale.

keep up with 's news

(s'informer réciproquement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

La famille se tient au courant de chacun.

run out

locution verbale (fuir)

let know

locution verbale (maintenir [qqn] informé de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Je regarde de mon côté si je peux trouver des hôtels pas chers pour nos vacances. Tiens-moi au courant si tu vois quelque chose d'intéressant.

keep up to date about , keep up to date on , keep informed about

(maintenir [qqn] informé de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Nous vous tiendrons au courant des dernières informations économiques. J'ai demandé aux maçons qui travaillent chez moi de me tenir au courant de l'avancée des travaux, même pendant mes vacances.

keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with

(rester informé de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Pendant les vacances, je me tiens au courant des actualités par les journaux.

current transformer

nom masculin (transformateur d'intensité électrique) (electricity)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

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