trajet

Trajet is a French noun meaning the course followed during a journey or the route between two points. It can refer to the path traveled by a person, vehicle, or object, as well as to the journey itself. In everyday usage, speakers say “faire le trajet” or “le trajet domicile-travail” and may specify duration or distance, for example “un trajet de 20 kilomètres” or “un trajet en train.”

Etymology: The word derives from Old French trajet, from Latin trajectus meaning “a drawing across, passage,” related to trahere “to pull, draw.” The term entered French in medieval times and, in English, shares its root with words such as trajectory.

Usage and nuance: In French, trajet is often used for practical routes and everyday travel. It contrasts with itinéraire, which emphasizes the planned route, and with parcours, which can mean the course or path more generally. In scientific or mathematical contexts, the concept of a path is expressed with either trajet or trajectoire, though trajectoire is more common for a precise geometrical path. In modern navigation, “calculer le trajet” or “tracer le trajet” describes deriving a route with a map or GPS.

English usage is relatively limited; it appears mainly in contexts drawn from French, such as travel writing or discussions about transportation. The word remains a French noun for non-specialist audiences and is widely understood in French-speaking regions.