matinaux

Matinaux is the masculine plural form of the French adjective matinal, meaning related to the morning or occurring in the morning. It is commonly used to describe times, events, and activities that take place early in the day, as well as people who wake up early.

Meaning and use: The word derives from matin (morning) and shares cognates with the English word matinal. The usual feminine forms are matinale (singular) and matinales (plural). Matinaux is used with masculine nouns, for example horaires matinaux (early-morning hours) or rendez-vous matinaux (early-morning appointments).

Usage and nuance: Matinaux is more formal or literary than everyday substitutes such as du matin or matinal. In general, speakers may prefer matinal or a phrase like tôt depending on context. The term is found in journalism and schedule descriptions, but its use is less common in casual speech.

Related terms: Matinal, matinée (a morning session or show). See also lève-tôt (early riser).