année

Année is a feminine French noun that denotes a year, either as a calendar year or as a span of time. It is used in phrases such as "cette année," "l'année prochaine," or "une année complète." The word contrasts with an, which is the more neutral unit of time used for counting years, as in "trois ans" versus "trois années" in contexts emphasizing duration.

Etymology: année derives from Latin annus and passed into Old French through forms such as an or annee. The circumflex over the é is a feature of modern spelling that signals historical pronunciation changes and the evolution of French orthography.

Usage and nuance: In general, année stresses duration, entirety, or annual cycles, while an often signals a numerical count. Civil or formal references use "année civile" for the calendar year and "année bissextile" for a leap year. The standard greeting "bonne année" celebrates the start of a new year. Expressions like "pendant une année entière" underscore the length of time, whereas "après trois années" can imply a sequence or continuation.

Plural and modifiers: The plural is "années." Adjectives and determiners agree in gender and number: "la prochaine année," "les dernières années," "ma meilleure année." Common collocations include "année en cours," "année académique," or "année fiscale," reflecting specific annual cycles.

See also: an, calendrier grégorien, année civile, année bissextile, durée.