matin

Matin is a term with meanings tied to the early part of the day in several languages. In French, matin denotes the morning, the period from dawn to noon. The word derives from Latin matutinus “of the morning” via Old French matin. It also appears in related forms such as matinée, a daytime performance or screening.

In French usage, matin serves as a straightforward noun meaning morning, illustrated by phrases such as ce matin (this morning). The related term matinée refers to a daytime show, typically occurring in the late morning or early afternoon, and is used in cinema and theater contexts.

In English-language religious and historical contexts, matins (plural) refers to the morning hours or to the canonical hour of morning prayers in many Christian traditions. The adjective matinal or matin is used to describe morning-related activities or characteristics, such as matinal birds that become active at dawn.

As a proper noun, Le Matin and other variants have been used as newspaper titles in French-speaking regions. These names translate to “The Morning” and have been adopted by publications in various countries, often reflecting the publication’s emphasis on early-day news coverage. The use of Matin in media reflects a common cultural association between morning availability and news consumption.