leçon

Leçon is the French word for a lesson or instruction, commonly used to denote a unit of teaching presented during a class. In education, a leçon includes the topics to be covered, key concepts, and often accompanying examples, explanations, and exercises. Students may be asked to “réviser sa leçon” (review the material) or “apprendre sa leçon” (learn or memorize the material). The expression “tirer une leçon” means to draw a lesson or moral from an experience, and “la leçon de morale” refers to a moral teaching.

Etymology and usage: Leçon derives from Latin lectio, via Old French, originally tied to reading in a classroom. Over time, the sense broadened from the act of reading to the content to be taught during a teaching session. The term can refer to a single instructional segment within a broader course, and it is common to encounter phrases like “leçon du jour” (today’s lesson) or “plan de leçon” (lesson plan) in educational contexts.

Variants and equivalents: In education, leçon is often contrasted with terms such as cours (course or class) and séance (teaching session). In everyday speech, it also functions metaphorically, as in applying the lesson learned to future actions.

Cultural usage: The word appears in literature and film as a title or motif to emphasize instruction, caution, or moral reflection. In translation, leçon is typically rendered as “lesson” in English, with broader connotations of teaching, learning, and moral guidance.