plein

Plein is a term used in Dutch and French with different meanings. In Dutch, plein is a noun meaning a public square or plaza, a central open space in towns and cities. In French, plein is primarily an adjective meaning full or filled, and it also appears as a noun in certain expressions related to fullness. The two senses are unrelated despite identical spelling in the two languages.

In Dutch, pleinen are common sites for markets, ceremonies, and social activity. Many cities structure urban life around a plein, a central square where streets converge and public life gathers. The toponymic form is common in place names such as Leidseplein or Damplein, often concatenated with a proper name. The plural form is pleinen; the noun is masculine.

In French, plein as an adjective agrees in gender and number: un plein (masculine singular) refers to a full tank or container; une pleine, pleins, pleines in other forms. The expression faire le plein means to fill up a tank or container. Plein is also used in phrases like plein d'énergie (full of energy), à plein temps (full-time), and plein air (outdoors).

Etymology: In French, plein derives from Latin plenus meaning full. In Dutch, plein likely comes from an older Germanic word denoting a flat or open space and came to mean a public square in urban terminology.