French Conversation · Level 47
73 words
French word
côte
Pronunciation
IPA/kot/
Meaning
- feminine nouncoast
Example
Nous allons à la côte ce week-end.
We are going to the coast this weekend.
More examples
On a marché le long de la côte hier.
We walked along the coast yesterday.
Core concept
A coastal edge where land meets water, including rocky ground and rising slopes.
Common phrases
la côte
the coast
longer la côte
go along the coast
la Côte d'Azur
the French Riviera
Similar words
plage: A seaside area covered with sand or pebbles for swimming and leisure.
bord de mer: An area along the sea commonly visited for walking and sightseeing.
rivage: The strip of land beside the water where waves wash ashore.
Definition in French
Partie du littoral ; endroit où la terre rencontre la mer, parfois employé aussi pour une côte rocheuse ou une pente.
Word origin
French côte comes from Latin costa, meaning 'rib' or 'side', through Old French coste, whose sense extended to an outer edge, a coast, and a slope.
Usage tips
- Côte is feminine, so the common phrase is 'la côte'; 'plage' specifically denotes a beach rather than the wider coastal area.