What does guerre in French mean?

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

The word guerre in French means war, warfare, war, battle, fight, struggle, war, open warfare, you just have to make the best of things, post-war period, weapon of war, art of war, at the end of the war, prewar period, have been through the wars, warship, naval ship, It is fair game, That is fair game, war cabinet, prisoner-of-war camp, war dog, council of war, council of war, war correspondent, battle cry, war crime, war criminal, Croix de Guerre, pre-war, worn down, declaration of war, war declaration, declaration of war, war declaration, declare war on a country, declare war on, declare war on, be back on the warpath, god of war, the phoney war, command and staff college, war economy, war effort, in wartime, war child, war baby, child of the enemy, bury the hatchet, go to war, join a war, state of war, be at war with, be standing at the ready, be ready to go into battle, be at war, wage war on , wage war against, fight, wage war on , wage war against , go to war against, be at war with, wage war on, war exploit, war film, firebrand, grand warrior, the Great War, nuclear war, thermonuclear war, biological warfare, germ warfare, biological warfare, civil war, conventional warfare, war of independence, war of attrition, the First World War, World War I, the First World War, the Hundred Years' War, siege warfare, the American Civil War, the Civil War, trench warfare, the Thirty Years' War, the Trojan War, gang warfare, battle of nerves, price war, battle of the sexes, the Six-Day War, the Gulf War, blitz, economic war, economic war, the Cold War, world war, naval warfare, undeclared war, open war, preventive war, psychological war, religious war, revolutionary war, holy war, submarine warfare, all-out war, full-scale war, disabled veteran, disabled veteran, war mindset, war machine, war medal, campaign medal, Department of Defense, disabled veteran, warship, the sinews of war, nom de guerre, go off to war, war paint, war pension. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word guerre

war, warfare

nom féminin (conflit militaire) (battle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il n'y a plus de guerre entre la France et l'Allemagne.
There is no more war between France and Germany.

war, battle, fight, struggle

nom féminin (bataille de pouvoir) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Actuellement les guerres sont économiques.
Wars now are economic.

war

nom féminin (chasse, lutte) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
À la maison, nous faisons la guerre au gaspillage.
We are waging war on waste in our house.

open warfare

nom féminin (figuré (querelle, dispute) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ils divorcent, c'est la guerre entre eux.
They're getting divorced; it's open warfare between them.

you just have to make the best of things

(figuré (contentons-nous de ce que nous avons)

post-war period

(période après une guerre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'après-guerre est souvent une période faste.

weapon of war

nom féminin (objet, engin, produit qui sert à attaquer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les mitraillettes sont des armes de guerre.

art of war

nom masculin (tactique militaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Après des années d'expérience sur tous les fronts, le général est passé maître dans l'art de la guerre.

at the end of the war

locution adverbiale (à la fin du conflit)

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

prewar period

nom masculin et féminin (période avant une guerre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'avant-guerre n'est jamais une période insouciante.

have been through the wars

locution verbale (figuré, familier (objet : être en mauvais état) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mais c'est quoi, ce canapé ? Il a fait la guerre ou quoi ?

warship, naval ship

nom masculin (navire militaire)

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

It is fair game, That is fair game

(bonne riposte, repartie.)

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

war cabinet

nom masculin (conseil ministériel de guerre)

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

prisoner-of-war camp

nom masculin (prison militaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pendant une guerre les soldats prisonniers sont retenus dans des camps de prisonniers de guerre.

war dog

nom masculin (chien utilisé par les militaires)

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

council of war

nom masculin (tribunal militaire)

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

council of war

nom masculin (état major gouvernemental)

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

war correspondent

nom masculin (journaliste couvrant un conflit)

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

battle cry

nom masculin (manifestation verbale avant l'attaque)

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

war crime

nom masculin (acte délictueux en temps de guerre)

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

war criminal

nom masculin ([qqn] ayant commis des faits graves)

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

Croix de Guerre

nom féminin (médaille militaire) (French military medal)

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

pre-war

locution adjectivale (antérieur à une guerre)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est un film typique du cinéma d'avant-guerre.

worn down

locution adverbiale (renoncer)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
De guerre lasse, Christine a fini par révéler la recette de son fameux gâteau au chocolat.

declaration of war, war declaration

nom féminin (annonce d'entrée en guerre)

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

declaration of war, war declaration

nom féminin (figuré (acte hostile) (figurative)

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

declare war on a country

(entrer en conflit armé contre un pays)

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

declare war on

(figuré (entrer en conflit ouvert contre [qqn]) (figurative)

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

declare war on

(figuré (tout faire pour lutter contre [qch]) (figurative)

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

be back on the warpath

locution verbale (figuré (débuter un conflit) (figurative)

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

god of war

nom masculin (divinité martiale)

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

the phoney war

nom féminin (début de la 2e Guerre mondiale) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La drôle de guerre voyait la mobilisation des troupes sans ennemis.

command and staff college

nom féminin (enseignement militaire)

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

war economy

nom féminin (mesures économiques spéciales)

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

war effort

nom masculin (contribution civile à la guerre)

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

in wartime

locution adverbiale (en période de conflit)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
En temps de guerre, c'est la loi du plus fort qui prévaut.

war child, war baby

nom masculin et féminin (enfant né sous la guerre)

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

child of the enemy

nom masculin et féminin (enfant d'un ennemi)

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

bury the hatchet

locution verbale (figuré (faire la paix) (figurative)

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

go to war, join a war

locution verbale (commencer un conflit armé)

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

state of war

nom masculin (guerre déclarée)

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

be at war with

(lutter contre [qqn/qch])

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

be standing at the ready

locution verbale (être prêt à se battre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les armées sont sur le pied de guerre dans cette région.

be ready to go into battle

locution verbale (figuré (être fin prêt) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Marcel est sur le pied de guerre aujourd’hui.

be at war

locution verbale (guerroyer, mener une action armée)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ce pays fait la guerre en Asie.
This country is at war in Asia.

wage war on , wage war against

locution verbale (guerroyer contre [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le gouvernement fait la guerre aux trafiquants.
The government is waging war on traffickers.

fight

locution verbale (personne : participer à une guerre)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
La mère avait peur pour son fils qui allait faire la guerre. Ce type, ce n'est pas un rigolo. Il a fait la guerre !
That guy's no joker; he's seen action!

wage war on , wage war against , go to war against

locution verbale (figuré (lutter contre [qqn/qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les professeurs font la guerre au langage SMS.
Teachers are waging war on textspeak.

be at war with

(être en conflit armé contre [qqn])

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

wage war on

(figuré (lutter vigoureusement contre [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. The government is waging war on hard drugs.

war exploit

nom masculin (action militaire méritoire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce poilu a reçu la croix de guerre pour fait de guerre.

war film

nom masculin (vidéo traitant de la guerre) (mainly UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
« Le jour le plus long » est un célèbre film de guerre.

firebrand, grand warrior

nom masculin (figuré ([qqn] ou [qch] de très puissant)

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

the Great War

nom propre féminin (Première Guerre mondiale) (1914-1918 conflict)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
En 2014, nous avons fêté le centenaire de la Grande Guerre.

nuclear war, thermonuclear war

nom féminin (conflit nucléaire)

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

biological warfare, germ warfare

nom féminin (guerre utilisant des agents pathogènes)

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

biological warfare

nom féminin (guerre avec armes chimiques)

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

civil war

nom féminin (guerre opposant 2 parties de population)

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

conventional warfare

nom féminin (guerre non nucléaire)

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

war of independence

nom féminin (lutte pour une indépendance)

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

war of attrition

nom féminin (guerre d'attaques répétées)

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

the First World War, World War I

nom propre féminin (Première Guerre mondiale) (1914-1918)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Mon arrière-grand-père a fait la guerre de 14.

the First World War

nom propre féminin (la Première Guerre mondiale) (1914-1918)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce documentaire sur la guerre de 14-18 m’a complètement retournée.

the Hundred Years' War

nom propre féminin (guerre de succession franco-anglaise) (historical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La guerre de Cent Ans opposa de 1337 à 1453 la dynastie anglaise des Plantagenêts à la dynastie française des Valois pour la souveraineté de la Guyenne.

siege warfare

nom féminin (guerre de tranchées) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La Première Guerre Mondiale fut essentiellement une guerre de position.

the American Civil War, the Civil War

nom féminin (guerre civile américaine (1861-1865)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Abraham Lincoln fut assassiné deux mois après la fin de la guerre de Sécession.

trench warfare

nom féminin (guerre de position)

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

the Thirty Years' War

nom propre féminin (guerre de religion européenne) (1618-1648)

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

the Trojan War

nom féminin (conflit de la mythologie grecque) (Greek mythology)

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

gang warfare

nom masculin (rivalité armée entre gangs)

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

battle of nerves

nom masculin (affaiblissement moral de l'adversaire)

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

price war

nom féminin (baise des prix due à la concurrence)

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

battle of the sexes

nom féminin (opposition entre hommes et femmes)

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

the Six-Day War

nom propre féminin (guerre israélo-arabe)

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

the Gulf War

nom propre féminin (conflit du golfe persique) (1990-1991 conflict)

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

blitz

nom féminin (guerre très rapide, fulgurante)

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

economic war

nom féminin (lutte mercantile)

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

economic war

nom féminin (conflit usant de blocus)

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

the Cold War

nom féminin (conflit larvé entre URSS et État-Unis)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La guerre froide marqua l’après-guerre jusque fin 1990.
The Cold War was a defining element of the postwar period until the end of 1990.

world war

nom féminin (guerre étendue au Monde)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le terrorisme représente une nouvelle guerre mondiale.

naval warfare

nom féminin (lutte sur les mers)

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

undeclared war

nom féminin (conflit larvé)

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

open war

nom féminin (guerre officiellement déclarée)

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

preventive war

nom féminin (attaque anticipée d'un ennemi potentiel)

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

psychological war

nom féminin (conflit de propagande)

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

religious war

nom féminin (conflit opposant différentes religions)

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

revolutionary war

nom féminin (révolution armée)

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

holy war

nom féminin (guerre pour propager une religion)

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

submarine warfare

nom féminin (guerre utilisant des sous-marins)

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

all-out war, full-scale war

nom féminin (guerre contre civils et militaires)

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

disabled veteran

nom masculin (invalide suite à la guerre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Malheureusement, les guerres laissent toujours derrière elles de nombreux infirmes de guerre.

disabled veteran

nom masculin (infirme dû à la guerre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La Der de Ders a laissé de nombreux invalides de guerre.

war mindset

nom féminin (lutte de type militaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Une logique de guerre est parfois mise en place pour lutter contre les trafics de drogue.

war machine

nom masculin (engin de guerre)

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

war medal, campaign medal

nom féminin (médaille obtenue durant une guerre)

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

Department of Defense

nom masculin (exécution de la politique militaire) (US, equivalent)

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

disabled veteran

nom masculin (handicapé par blessure de guerre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Paul n'a plus qu'une jambe, c'est un mutilé de guerre.

warship

nom masculin (navire militaire) (military vessel)

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

the sinews of war

nom masculin (argent)

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

nom de guerre

nom masculin (surnom martial)

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

go off to war

locution verbale (aller combattre l'ennemi)

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

war paint

nom féminin (décoration de peau de guerrier)

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

war pension

nom féminin (rente d'ancien combattant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Sa retraite d'employé est complétée par une pension de guerre.

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of guerre in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

Do you know about French

French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.