Raison (en. Reason)

/ʁɛ.zɔ̃/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Fundamental principle that justifies an action or thought.

He gave a valid reason for his absence.

Il a donné une raison valable pour son absence.

Ability to think, judge, or understand.

Reason is what distinguishes us from other animals.

La raison est ce qui nous distingue des autres animaux.

Logic or argumentation.

His reasoning did not hold up against the facts.

Sa raison ne tenait pas face aux faits.

From the Latin 'ratio', which means 'calculation', 'account' or 'reasoning'.

to be right

To be in the right, to have the correct opinion.

avoir raison

all reason

Generally speaking.

toute raison

to reason

To think logically.

raisonner

reasoning

Action of reasoning, process of logical thought.

raisonnement

irrational

Which escapes reason, which is not based on logic.

irrationnel

rational

Which is based on reason, logic.

rationnel

To have good critical sense.

He is really right when he says that.

Il a vraiment la raison quand il dit cela.

A justification for something, often in an informal context.

That's his reason for going out so late.

C'est sa raison de sortir si tard.