Lentretien

Lentretien is a French noun with multiple meanings depending on context. It derives from the verb entretenir, meaning to maintain or to nourish, and its senses cluster around two main domains: conversation and maintenance.

In everyday usage, l’entretien most often denotes a formal conversation, typically for gathering information or presenting it in a publication. It is used for interviews, especially journalistically, as well as for routine discussions. Phrases such as entretien d’embauche (job interview) or un entretien avec un auteur are common.

In professional and technical contexts, l’entretien also means maintenance or upkeep of equipment, buildings, or services. A plan d’entretien or un contrat d’entretien covers preventive maintenance, inspections, and servicing designed to preserve function and safety. The notion extends to periodic reviews, such as l’entretien annuel d’évaluation in a corporate setting.

Etymology: the word comes from entretenir, reflecting the idea of keeping or sustaining something, whether a relationship through dialogue or a machine through care.

Context determines meaning: a journalist’s entretien versus an industrial plan d’entretien; common collocations include entretien d’embauche, entretien annuel, plan d’entretien.