French Conversation · Level 7
87 words
French word
avalanche
Pronunciation
IPA/avalɑ̃ʃ/
Meaning
- feminine nounavalanche
Example
Après la tempête, une avalanche a bloqué la route.
After the storm, an avalanche blocked the road.
More examples
Après la campagne publicitaire, l'entreprise a reçu une avalanche de candidatures.
After the advertising campaign, the company received an avalanche of applications.
Core concept
A mountainside torrent of packed snow and ice racing downward until it covers roads, people, or structures.
Common phrases
une avalanche de messages
an avalanche of messages
une avalanche de candidatures
an avalanche of applications
Similar words
neige: White frozen water falls from the sky and accumulates on the ground.
éboulement: Rock or earth collapses and falls from a slope.
coulée de boue: A flow of water mixed with soil moves down a slope.
Definition in French
Déplacement rapide et massif de neige et de glace le long d'une pente, susceptible de bloquer des voies et d'ensevelir des personnes.
Word origin
The noun entered French from Alpine regional speech, including Occitan avalanca, whose aval element expresses downward movement.
Usage tips
- In the figurative phrase "une avalanche de documents", de introduces the things arriving in an overwhelming quantity.
Opposites
- raretéraritynoun