The French word for substance is “substance”. It is pronounced “soob-stonss” and has the same meaning as the English word “substance”. Substance in French refers to the physical matter that makes up an object, as well as more abstract concepts like essence, meaning, or ideas.
Definition and Origins
The French word “substance” traces back to the Latin word “substantia”, meaning foundation or essence. It entered the French language in the 14th century from Medieval Latin. According to the Trésor de la Langue Française dictionary, the first known use of “substance” in French was in 1369.
In modern French, “substance” has two main meanings:
- Physical matter that has mass and occupies space. This includes solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.
- Essence or underlying reality of something immaterial. For example, the substance of an argument or the substance of someone’s character.
These definitions mirror the two uses of “substance” in English. The physical, material sense of the word was likely its original meaning in French, derived from the Latin term for a foundational essence. The more abstract meaning developed later on as the word took on philosophical and metaphysical significance.
Usage
French uses “substance” in many of the same contexts as English. For instance:
- “Une substance chimique” – A chemical substance
- “Les substances nutritives” – Nutrients or nutritional substances
- “Une substance illicite” – An illicit substance
- “La substance de son argument” – The substance of his argument
The plural “substances” is also common and follows standard French pluralization rules. Some examples:
- “Ces substances sont toxiques.” – These substances are toxic.
- “Les substances trouvées sur la scène de crime.” – Substances found at the crime scene.
Overall, “substance” operates grammatically the same way in French as it does in English. It takes the definite article “la” or indefinite articles like “une”. The position of the adjective does not change.
Types of Substances
French recognizes the same types of substances that exist in science and chemistry:
- Solids – “Solides” (hard, defined shape)
- Liquids – “Liquides” (flows, takes shape of container)
- Gases – “Gaz” (diffuse, no defined volume)
- Plasma – “Plasma” (ionized gas)
French speakers would use “substance” to describe all of these physical forms of matter. For example:
- “L’eau peut exister comme solide, liquide ou gaz” – Water can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas
- “Le plasma est une substance constituée de gaz ionisé” – Plasma is a substance made up of ionized gas
The word “matière” in French can also mean “substance” in the physical sense of matter. But “substance” implies a specific chemical identity, while “matière” is more general.
Related Terms
Some other French words related to “substance”:
- Substantiel – Substantial, having substance
- Substantif – Noun, a part of speech with substantive meaning
- Substantivation – Conversion into a noun or substantive form
- Substantiver – To turn into a noun or make substantive
These all derive from the root Latin term for substance and essence. There are also some idiomatic expressions in French using “substance”:
- “En substance” – In substance, in summary
- “Être bien en chair” – To be plump, literally “to be in good substance”
- “N’avoir que la peau et les os” – To be extremely skinny, literally “to have only skin and bones”
Chemical Substances
In chemistry, a substance has a specific molecular composition and structure. French uses “substance” when referring to chemical substances:
- “Substance pure” – pure substance
- “Substance composée” – compound
- “Substance organique/inorganique” – organic/inorganic substance
Some examples of chemical substances in French include:
- L’eau – Water (H2O)
- Le dioxygène – Oxygen (O2)
- L’éthanol – Ethanol (C2H5OH)
- Le méthane – Methane (CH4)
The molecular formula is used to represent the unique chemical identity of a substance. French uses the same conventions for naming chemical formulas as English.
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of a substance describe how it behaves and interacts with other substances. Some French terms for chemical properties include:
- Solubilité – Solubility
- Volatilité – Volatility
- Inflammabilité – Flammability
- Acidité – Acidity
- Basicité – Basicity
These properties help characterize and identify chemical substances. French-speaking chemists analyze chemical substances using the same methods and terminology as English-speakers.
States of Matter
Substances can exist in different physical states. The main states of matter in French are:
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Solid | Solide |
| Liquid | Liquide |
| Gas | Gaz |
| Plasma | Plasma |
The same substance can exist in multiple states depending on temperature and pressure. For example, water as ice (solid), liquid water, and water vapor (gas).
Substance in Philosophy
In philosophy, “substance” refers to the essence or true nature of something. French philosophers like René Descartes and Baruch Spinoza used the word in theories about being, self, and knowledge.
Some philosophical contexts for “substance” in French include:
- Une substance pensante – A thinking substance, mind
- Les attributs d’une substance – Attributes of a substance
- La substance du soi – The substance of the self
“Substance” here conveys something immaterial but fundamental about the nature of existence and reality. This meaning evolved from more concrete senses of the word.
Metaphysics
In metaphysics, “substance” refers to the essence of being. René Descartes proposed dualism between physical substance (“res extensa”) and mental substance (“res cogitans”). Baruch Spinoza later described an all-encompassing divine substance.
Ontology
Ontology is the study of being and existence. In ontology, “substance” is often contrasted with “accidents” – non-essential attributes. French philosophers like Voltaire and Diderot analyzed the nature of substance in their ontological works.
Substance in Psychology
Psychology engages the notion of substance in a few ways, such as:
- Psychoactive substances – Chemical substances that affect the brain and mind
- Addictive substances – Substances that cause addiction
- Levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, etc. – The chemicals that transmit signals in the brain
Understanding the psychological impacts of different chemical substances is an important area of research. “Substance” is a useful concept for describing compounds that cross between the physical and mental realms.
Psychoactive Substances
Psychoactive substances impact perceptions, mood, cognition, and behavior. Some examples in French include:
- La caféine – Caffeine
- Le cannabis – Cannabis
- L’alcool – Alcohol
- La nicotine – Nicotine
- La cocaïne – Cocaine
- L’héroïne – Heroin
- Le LSD – LSD
Research looks at how these substances interact with neurochemistry and their psychological effects like altered consciousness. Understanding psychoactive substances is vital in fields like psychiatry and pharmacology.
Addiction
“Addiction aux substances” describes addiction to drugs or alcohol. French psychology examines how repeated substance use can cause changes in the brain leading to addiction. This includes physical dependence as well as psychological cravings.
Treatment often requires both medical and behavioral interventions to manage withdrawal and prevent relapse. The use of “substance” underscores how integral chemistry is to the cycle of addiction.
Conclusion
In French, “substance” has broader meaning than the English word. It encompasses physical matter, essence, and the fundamental nature of things. From chemicals to abstract concepts, “substance” conveys the core of something and what lies beneath surface appearances. Understanding this expansive meaning illuminates the diverse ways French-speakers see and describe the world through the lens of substance.