Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

élan vital

/eɪˈlɑn viˈtɑl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.00 in modern English

Syllables: elan vi-tal
IPA: /eɪˈlɑn viˈtɑl/

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The life force or vital principle posited in the philosophy of Henri Bergson; any mysterious or creative vital principle.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Progress was a labyrinth. . . people plunging blindly in and then rushing wildly back, shouting that they had found it. . . the invisible king—the élan vital—the principle of evolution. . ."
"She turned astonished blue eyes towards Mr. Wimbush, then let them fall on to the seething mass of élan vital that fermented in the sty."
"Electricity! the force of the future—for everything, you know, including the élan vital itself, will soon be proven electrical in nature."

Etymology

An unadapted borrowing from French élan vital (“life force”, literally “vital impetus or force”), coined by Henri Bergson in 1907.

Usage

Uncountable

Frequently Paired Words

vitalism

Questions

How do you pronounce élan vital?: The recorded pronunciation is /eɪˈlɑn viˈtɑl/.
What does élan vital mean?: The life force or vital principle posited in the philosophy of Henri Bergson; any mysterious or creative vital principle.
Where does élan vital come from?: An unadapted borrowing from French élan vital (“life force”, literally “vital impetus or force”), coined by Henri Bergson in 1907.

How to pronounce élan vital

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