idée

Idée is a French noun meaning idea, notion, or concept. It designates a mental representation, thought, or impression, and can also refer to a plan, proposal, or source of inspiration. In everyday language one speaks of « une idée », « avoir une idée », and phrases such as « une bonne idée », « l’idée générale », or « une idée reçue ». The term covers both concrete plans (for example, initiating a project from a new idea) and abstract concepts (such as ideas about liberty or justice).

Etymology and form: Idée is descended from Old French idee, which comes from Latin idea and ultimately from the Greek idea (ἰδέα, eidos), meaning form or appearance. The acute accent in French guides pronunciation and distinguishes it from related forms in other languages. The plural is idées, and the word is used with definite or indefinite articles in numerous fixed expressions.

Philosophical and cultural usage: In philosophy and critical thought, idée signifies a mental content or form of thought that can be conceived or argued about. The term appears across literary and scholarly writings to denote central themes, concepts, or cognitive content. It also gives rise to common expressions such as idée maîtresse (central idea) and idée fixe (a fixed or dominant idea), as well as derivatives like idéologie (ideology), which share a common associative root.

See also: idée fixe, idée reçue, notion, concept, idéologie. The word is a fundamental element of French vocabulary for describing thought, representation, and creative or analytical beginnings.