présents

Présents is a French term with several related but distinct uses. It can function as a noun and as an inflected form of the adjective présent. Etymologically, it comes from the Latin praesens, formed from prae- “before” and esse “to be,” meaning “being at hand” or “existing now.”

As a noun, les présents refers to the people who are present at a given moment, especially at a meeting, ceremony, or other gathering. It is commonly used in formal contexts such as minutes or attendance lists, often paired with les absents to distinguish who is there. For example, a recording might note which participants are présents.

As an adjective, présent is the standard word for “present” in the sense of current or existing. The masculine plural form is présents, used to modify masculine plural nouns: par exemple, les éléments présents dans le document. The use emphasizes that something is active, current, or physically located in the cited place or time. The contrasting form is absent or absentes, depending on gender and number.

In addition to time and attendance senses, the phrase au présent or à l’instant présent denotes the present moment. The term also appears in philosophical or literary discussions of presentness, immediacy, and perception.

Overall, présents operates mainly in two domains: naming the people who attend an event and describing things that are currently present or pertinent. Its usage is commonplace in administrative language and in formal writing, while in everyday speech, the noun form is less frequent but understood within the context of attendance.