French Word of the Day: Branché
This word has multiple meanings, most of which are positive.
Why do I need to know branché?
Because being branché is no bad thing.
What does it mean?
Branché, pronounced "bron-shay", has multiple meanings.
Une branche, is the French word used to denote the branch of a tree.
In this respect, branché can be used in a botanical sense or to describe an object's position relative to a tree.
Les merles sont branchés - the blackbirds are sitting on the branch
But more often than not, the word is used to mean "plugged in" or "connected" in a literal and metaphorical sense.
For example, when talking about electrical appliances, you could use the following phrases:
Le cordon d'alimentation doit être branché - the power cord must be plugged in
Le téléphone peut être branché au dispositif - the phone can be connected to the device
If you wanted to use it as a verb, you could say:
Je branche mon micro - I am connecting my microphone
When a person is branché it means that they are well connected, fashionable or on top of the latest news. It is thought that this meaning could come from pre-revolutionary France when having an aristocratic branch in the family tree would likely mean that someone was better connected and had greater life chances.
Elle est très branchée avec un réseau énorme - she is very well connected and has an enormous network
À Paris Fashion Week, il y a trop de gens branchés - at Paris Fashion week there are too many of the in-crowd
Ce journaliste est très branché - this journalist is very well connected/has good sources
Synonyms
À la mode - fashionable
En vogue - fashionable
Au courant - up to date
Connecté - connected
Relié - linked up
Comments (1)
See Also
Why do I need to know branché?
Because being branché is no bad thing.
What does it mean?
Branché, pronounced "bron-shay", has multiple meanings.
Une branche, is the French word used to denote the branch of a tree.
In this respect, branché can be used in a botanical sense or to describe an object's position relative to a tree.
Les merles sont branchés - the blackbirds are sitting on the branch
But more often than not, the word is used to mean "plugged in" or "connected" in a literal and metaphorical sense.
For example, when talking about electrical appliances, you could use the following phrases:
Le cordon d'alimentation doit être branché - the power cord must be plugged in
Le téléphone peut être branché au dispositif - the phone can be connected to the device
If you wanted to use it as a verb, you could say:
Je branche mon micro - I am connecting my microphone
When a person is branché it means that they are well connected, fashionable or on top of the latest news. It is thought that this meaning could come from pre-revolutionary France when having an aristocratic branch in the family tree would likely mean that someone was better connected and had greater life chances.
Elle est très branchée avec un réseau énorme - she is very well connected and has an enormous network
À Paris Fashion Week, il y a trop de gens branchés - at Paris Fashion week there are too many of the in-crowd
Ce journaliste est très branché - this journalist is very well connected/has good sources
Synonyms
À la mode - fashionable
En vogue - fashionable
Au courant - up to date
Connecté - connected
Relié - linked up
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