French word

canoë-kayak

Pronunciation

IPA/kanoɛkajak/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncanoeing

Example

Il pratique le canoë-kayak depuis dix ans.

He has been canoeing for ten years.

Illustration for canoë-kayak (canoeing)

More examples

Nous allons faire du canoë-kayak ce week-end.

We are going canoe-kayaking this weekend.

Core concept

Paddlers in narrow boats race across water while balancing speed with precise steering.

Common phrases

  • faire du canoë-kayak

    go canoe-kayaking

  • pratiquer le canoë-kayak

    practice canoe-kayaking

  • club de canoë-kayak

    canoe-kayaking club

Similar words

kayak: A narrow boat for one or more seated paddlers, propelled with a paddle.
canoë: A small open boat propelled with a single-bladed paddle.

Definition in French

Discipline sportive qui regroupe les courses en canoë et en kayak, pratiquées en individuel ou en équipe sur rivière, lac ou bassin.

Word origin

Canoë-kayak combines French canoë, borrowed through Spanish canoa from an Indigenous Caribbean language, and kayak, borrowed from Greenlandic qajaq via English.

Usage tips

  • The sport takes the masculine article: le canoë-kayak, as in faire du canoë-kayak.

Related words

  • canoë-kayakistecanoe-kayakernoun
  • canoéistecanoeistnoun

Word lists with this word