générale

Générale is the feminine form of the French adjective général. It describes feminine nouns with senses such as general, broad, or overall, as in une opinion générale, une tendance générale, or une vision générale.

In grammar, the word agrees with the noun it modifies: général for masculine nouns and générale for feminine nouns. The corresponding adverb is généralement, meaning generally or in general.

In cultural usage, la générale can refer to the final rehearsal before a premiere in theatre and performance contexts. It is often used interchangeably with the more explicit répétition générale, which denotes the last full run-through before opening night.

Générale also appears in the names of organizations and brands to convey breadth or comprehensiveness. Notable examples include Société Générale, a major French bank, and other corporate names such as Générale de Santé or Générale Bank in historical contexts. In these cases, the term signals a broad scope of activities or services.

Related terms include général, the masculine form of the adjective, and the abstract noun généralité, which denotes the generality or common characteristics of a group. The root of géné rale lies in Latin generalis, meaning pertaining to the whole or to the general case.

In summary, générale functions primarily as the feminine counterpart of général, used to describe feminine nouns in general or broad terms, and it appears in specific cultural and institutional contexts as well as in theatre terminology.