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alvéolaire

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Etymology and origin of the French word alvéolaire

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1751 Encyclopédie More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin alveus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin alvus
Latin alveus
Latin alveolus
French alvéolaire
From the same root
Latin alvārium ← alvus
Latin alveārium ← alveus
English alveolar ← alveolus
Latin alveolātus ← alveolus

Pronunciation

  • /al.ve.ɔ.lɛʁ/[1]

Forms

alvéolaire (plural alvéolaires)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French alvéole + -aire.[2][3][1][4] Alvéole is from Latin alveolus, which had various technical senses, a diminutive of alveus (“cavity, hollow, beehive”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1751 in the Encyclopédie, in anatomy, for the arch of the upper jawbone in which the tooth sockets are hollowed out.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The adjective comes from the first sense of alvéole, “tooth socket”.[6] In phonetics it has been used since 1933 (Marouzeau) of consonants made with the tip of the tongue against the ridge behind the upper teeth; it is also used in palaeontology.[6][2] It also refers to the air sacs of the lungs.[7][2]

Timeline

  • 1751 – First recorded in the Encyclopédie.[2][4]
  • 1838 – Alvéolariforme is formed from it.[2]
  • 1933 – Marouzeau uses it in phonetics.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (anatomy) Of the tooth sockets: os alvéolaire, nerf alvéolaire.[7][2][8]
  2. (phonetics) alveolar, articulated with the tip of the tongue at the ridge behind the upper teeth; also as a feminine noun, an alveolar consonant.[2][7][5]
  3. (anatomy) Of the pulmonary alveoli: air alvéolaire.[7][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Alvéolaire.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/alv%C3%A9olaire. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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