French word

avenue

Pronunciation

IPA/avəny/

Meaning

  • feminine nounavenue

Example

J'habite dans une avenue calme.

I live on a quiet avenue.

Illustration for avenue (avenue)

More examples

Nous nous sommes promenés le long de l'avenue bordée d'arbres.

We walked along the tree-lined avenue.

Core concept

A broad, tree-lined city street with buildings and shops on both sides, used for traffic and strolling.

Common phrases

  • une avenue commerçante

    shopping avenue

  • l'avenue principale

    main avenue

  • l'avenue bordée d'arbres

    tree-lined avenue

Similar words

rue: A typical city street lined with buildings, shops, and homes.
boulevard: A wide, busy city main road, often with trees or a central divider.
allée: A narrow, tree-lined walkway suited to walking.
quai: A road or walkway beside a river or canal, often with docks.

Definition in French

Grande rue urbaine, souvent décorative ou commerçante et bordée d'arbres, destinée à la circulation et aux promenades.

Word origin

Avenue comes through Old French from Latin advenire, 'to arrive'; it first referred to a way of approach before naming a broad urban street.

Usage tips

  • Avenue is feminine in French, so the usual forms are une avenue, cette avenue, and une avenue calme.

Opposites

Word lists with this word