haut/o/
noun / adjective / adverb · A2 · Frequency 979
nounmasculine
Meanings
top
Refers to the uppermost part of an object, commonly used to describe position.
top (clothing), upper garment
Refers to clothing worn on the upper part of the body, such as shirts or T-shirts.
Examples
Le chat s'est réfugié dans le haut du placard.
The cat took refuge at the top of the cupboard.
Une fissure apparaît dans le haut du mur.
A crack has appeared in the top part of the wall.
J'ai accroché une petite horloge dans le haut de la porte.
I hung a small clock in the upper part of the door.
Collocations
- le haut de la pagethe top of the page
- un haut en cotona cotton top
Common mistakes
Le titre est au haut de la page.
Le titre est en haut de la page.
For “at the top,” haut is normally used in the phrase en haut de; au haut de is not natural modern French.
Related words
synonymsommetsummit, top
synonympartie supérieureupper part
- antonymbasbottom
adjectivemasculine
Meanings
high; tall
Used to describe the height of objects or people.
early
Used to indicate an early stage in time.
Examples
Le haut mur cachait entièrement la cour de la maison voisine.
The high wall completely hid the neighboring house's courtyard.
Cet arbre est haut de plus de dix mètres.
This tree is more than ten meters tall.
Le haut Moyen Âge est marqué par de profonds changements politiques.
The Early Middle Ages were marked by profound political changes.
Collocations
- un plafond hauta high ceiling
Common mistakes
*le haut
le haut (nom)
“haut” as an adjective cannot be used alone as a noun, a noun must follow.
*haut(e) pour la taille
grand(e) pour la taille
When describing a person's height, “grand(e)” is usually used instead of “haut(e)”.
Related words
adverb
Meanings
up; upwards
Adverb indicating position or direction, commonly used to express spatial height or upward movement.
Examples
Le cerf-volant monte haut au-dessus des arbres.
The kite rises high above the trees.
Les fumées s'élèvent haut dans le ciel.
The smoke rises high into the sky.
Cette étagère est placée haut pour que les enfants ne l'atteignent pas.
This shelf is placed high so that the children cannot reach it.
Collocations
- viser hautto aim high
Common mistakes
*en haut
haut
The adverb “haut” means “at a high place” and should not be confused with the prepositional phrase “en haut”.
*hautement
haut
“Hautement” is an adverb with a different meaning and cannot replace “haut” to indicate spatial position.
Related words
nounmasculine
Meanings
top
Refers to the uppermost part of an object, commonly used to describe position.
top (clothing), upper garment
Refers to clothing worn on the upper part of the body, such as shirts or T-shirts.
Examples
Les hauts de la tour offrent une vue dégagée sur la vallée.
The tops of the tower offer an unobstructed view of the valley.
La neige recouvrait encore les hauts des montagnes en juin.
Snow still covered the tops of the mountains in June.
Les hauts des arbres dépassaient la clôture du jardin.
The tops of the trees rose above the garden fence.
Collocations
- le haut de la pagethe top of the page
- un haut en cotona cotton top
Common mistakes
Le titre est au haut de la page.
Le titre est en haut de la page.
For “at the top,” haut is normally used in the phrase en haut de; au haut de is not natural modern French.
Related words
synonymsommetsummit, top
synonympartie supérieureupper part
- antonymbasbottom
adjectivefeminine
Meanings
high; tall
Used to describe the height of objects or people.
early
Used to indicate an early stage in time.
Examples
La tour est si haute qu'elle dépasse les immeubles voisins.
The tower is so tall that it rises above the neighboring buildings.
Elle a placé les livres sur l'étagère la plus haute.
She put the books on the highest shelf.
Dans la Haute Antiquité, les échanges entre ces régions étaient déjà nombreux.
In early Antiquity, exchanges between these regions were already extensive.