French Conversation · Level 19
89 words
French word
canton
Pronunciation
IPA/kɑ̃tɔ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nouncanton
Example
Il habite dans un canton suisse.
He lives in a Swiss canton.
More examples
Elle est originaire du canton de Vaud.
She is from the canton of Vaud.
Core concept
A marked territorial section with its own administrative or electoral role.
Common phrases
originaire du canton
from the canton
les autorités du canton
the canton authorities
Similar words
département: A mid-level government division responsible for several municipalities.
commune: A basic local government area managed by its residents and providing local services.
région: A large administrative area that includes several lower-level divisions.
Definition in French
Unité administrative ou électorale regroupant souvent plusieurs communes ; selon les pays, le canton peut correspondre à un État fédéré (comme en Suisse) ou à une circonscription locale.
Word origin
The French noun was borrowed through Italian cantone, which developed from a Germanic term for an edge or corner and came to mean a district.
Usage tips
- Canton often appears in official or political contexts rather than as a general everyday word for a region.
Other meanings
- administrative districtnoun
- electoral districtnoun
Related words
- cantonalcantonaladjective