privées

Privées is the feminine plural form of the French adjective privé, meaning private or not public. It agrees with feminine plural nouns and is used to describe things that belong to or concern private individuals, rather than the public or state. The corresponding forms for other genders and numbers are privé (masculine singular), privée (feminine singular), and privés (masculine plural).

In practice, privées appears in a wide range of contexts. Examples include zones privées (private zones), propriétés privées (private properties), salles privées (private rooms), écoles privées (private schools), and vies privées (private lives). The noun phrases can refer to physical spaces, institutions, or abstract concepts like life and information that are intended to be kept out of the public sphere.

Grammatically, privées is used only with feminine nouns in the plural. When the noun is masculine or mixed gender, the forms privés (masculine plural) or privé (masculine) would be used. The feminine singular privée is also common in everyday language, for example la vie privée (private life).

Etymology traces privées to privé, itself from Latin privatus, meaning set apart or private. The word is widely used in formal and informal contexts, including legal language, real estate, education, media, and discussions about personal or confidential matters.

See also: privé.