élémentaire

Élémentaire is a French adjective meaning basic, fundamental, or simple. It describes concepts, skills, or tasks that do not require advanced techniques. Common phrases include “connaissances élémentaires” (elementary knowledge) and “calculs élémentaires” (elementary calculations). In scientific or philosophical contexts, it can refer to the most fundamental components, for example “particules élémentaires” (elementary particles) or “principes élémentaires.”

Étymology: The word comes from Latin elementum, via Old French elementaire, and is related to the noun élément (element). The prefix é- is the standard French spelling; the accent marks the pronunciation used in contemporary French.

Usage in education: In Francophone countries, “école élémentaire” denotes the primary school, typically serving children roughly six to eleven years old and representing the first stage of compulsory education in France and several other systems. The term also appears in curricula to label foundational subjects such as “mathématiques élémentaires” or “sciences élémentaires.”

See also: élément; particule élémentaire; école élémentaire.