repetitif

Répétitif is a French adjective meaning characterized by repetition or recurring, describing actions, patterns, or objects that occur again and again. It is used in neutral descriptive language as well as to convey a sense of monotony or dullness, depending on the context.

The term derives from the verb répéter (to repeat) and forms the masculine répé t if, with the feminine répé t i tive. In standard French the accents are obligatory: répé t if and répé t i tive. The unaccented form repetitif is generally considered nonstandard in French and may appear only in non-French texts or typographical omissions.

Usage spans several domains. In linguistics, it can describe recurrent structures or reduplication. In music and visual arts, it denotes rhythmic or formal repetition of motifs. In everyday language, it often characterizes tasks, routines, or processes that repeat, such as a répétitif workflow or a rythme répétitif. The adjective can carry a neutral tone when simply describing a feature, or a negative nuance when emphasizing lack of variety or creativity. Feminine forms commonly occur with feminine nouns, as in une tâche répétitive, un motif répétitif, or une séquence répétitive.

In English, the direct translation is repetitive, though the French term répetitif has its own normative spelling and usage conventions. See also repetition, reduplication, and monotony for related concepts.