French Conversation · Level 93
60 words
French word
banlieue
Pronunciation
IPA/bɑ̃ljø/
Meaning
- feminine nounsuburbs
Example
Il habite dans la banlieue de Paris.
He lives in the suburbs of Paris.
More examples
Depuis la banlieue, le trajet jusqu'au centre-ville est souvent long.
The trip from the suburbs to downtown is often long.
Core concept
The built-up outer belt where a city gives way to surrounding municipalities.
Common phrases
habiter en banlieue
live in the suburbs
aller en banlieue
go to the suburbs
en banlieue
in the suburbs
Similar words
périphérie: The region spreading just beyond the built-up area of a city.
quartier: A defined section of a town or city forming a local community.
cité: A housing district dominated by apartment buildings or public housing.
Definition in French
Ensemble des communes périphériques d'une agglomération, souvent à vocation résidentielle et distinct du centre-ville.
Word origin
The word developed from the medieval notion of an area within a lieue, or league, subject to a town's ban, meaning its authority.
Usage tips
- Unlike English suburb, banlieue can refer to a whole urban periphery and does not inherently mean an affluent area.
Other meanings
- outskirtsnoun
Opposites
- centre-villedowntownnoun
Related words
- banlieusardsuburban residentnoun
- banlieusiensuburbanadjective