espoir

Espoir is a French noun meaning hope or expectation. In everyday use it denotes a feeling or state of looking forward to something desired, and it appears in expressions such as avoir de l’espoir (to have hope), garder espoir (to keep hope), or mettre ses espoirs dans quelqu’un ou quelque chose (to place one’s hopes in someone or something). The opposite concept is désespoir, or perder l’espoir in contexts of despair.

Etymology and related terms: espoir derives from the verb espérer, meaning to hope, which in turn comes from the Latin spes (hope). The noun espérance is a closely related form with a broader sense of hope or expectation, often used in more formal or religious contexts.

Usage in culture: Essoir is a common theme in literature, philosophy, and art, where hope is examined as a motive, equilibrium, or source of resilience. A notable literary reference is L’Espoir, a 1937 novel by André Malraux, which uses the title to evoke the persistence of human aspiration amid conflict. The term also appears in poetry, song lyrics, and various artistic works as a universal concept.

See also: Espérance, the related French noun for a broader or more formal sense of hope. In translation, espoir aligns with the English word hope, while other languages offer equivalent terms such as esperanza in Spanish or espérance in French religious contexts.