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année

/ane/
1.
nounfeminine

year (a calendar year or a 12-month period)

a year as a span of time characterized by something (e.g., une année difficile)

On part en vacances à la fin de l'année.

We're going on vacation at the end of the year.

Synonyms:an
2.
nounfeminine

school year; academic year; year group (in school or university)

Tu es en quelle année à la fac ?

What year are you in at university?

Synonyms:classe, promotion

Notes

GENERAL INFO

Année (f.) means "year". It is a feminine noun.

USAGE

Use année when emphasizing the *duration*, *span*, or *period* of a year. For example, "Toute l'année" (all year long), "une bonne année" (a good year), or "l'année scolaire" (the school year).

TRAPS

Année is often confused with "an" (m.), which also means "year". "An" is typically used for counting or specific points in time (e.g., "deux ans" - two years, "l'an prochain" - next year). Année stresses the year as a continuous period or its content.