French Conversation · Level 142
30 words
French word
épave
Pronunciation
IPA/epav/
Meaning
- feminine nounwreckage
Example
Après la tempête, on a trouvé l'épave.
After the storm, the wreckage was found.
More examples
Après l'accident, sa voiture est devenue une épave.
After the accident, his car became a wreck.
Core concept
The wrecked remains of something that once worked, left visibly damaged and decaying.
Common phrases
épave de voiture
wrecked car
Similar words
reste: Fragments or remnants left after use or damage.
ruine: Remains of a building or structure ruined beyond recognition.
débris: Scattered fragments and scraps from something broken.
Definition in French
Restes visibles d'un objet détruit, en particulier d'un navire, le mot s'emploie aussi au figuré pour qualifier quelque chose ou quelqu'un en très mauvais état.
Word origin
Épave comes from Old French espave, a term for abandoned or wrecked property that later developed its modern literal and figurative uses.
Usage tips
- Épave is feminine, and its initial vowel takes l' in the singular, as in l'épave and une épave.
Other meanings
- shipwrecknoun
- wrecked carnoun