French Conversation · Level 21
89 words
French word
carnaval
Pronunciation
IPA/kaʁnaval/
Meaning
- masculine nouncarnival
Example
Le carnaval commence demain dans notre quartier.
The carnival starts tomorrow in our neighborhood.
More examples
Au carnaval, les gens portent des masques et des costumes.
At Carnival, people wear masks and costumes.
Core concept
A lively street celebration with costumed crowds, parades, music, and floats before Lent.
Common phrases
foule du carnaval
carnival crowd
préparer le carnaval
prepare the carnival
Similar words
fête: A small celebration where people gather to enjoy themselves.
festival: A large, long-running event focused on music or film.
défilé: A spectacle of people or vehicles moving in a line through the streets.
parade: A street procession featuring performers and decorated floats.
Definition in French
Fête populaire, souvent de rue, caractérisée par des défilés, des déguisements et des animations, généralement précédant le carême.
Word origin
French carnaval comes through Italian carnevale from medieval Latin carnelevare, formed from carne, 'meat', and levare, 'to remove'.
Usage tips
- Carnaval is masculine, so the usual singular form is le carnaval, not la carnaval.
Other meanings
- masqueradenoun
Opposites
- carêmeLentnoun
Related words
- carnavalesquecarnivalesqueadjective