French word

centrale

Pronunciation

IPA/sɑ̃tʁal/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpower station

Example

La centrale produit de l'électricité pour la région.

The power station produces electricity for the region.

Illustration for centrale (power station)

More examples

La centrale syndicale organise une réunion demain.

The labor federation organizes a meeting tomorrow.

Core concept

A central industrial site whose connected machinery supplies electricity across a city, region, or network.

Common phrases

  • centrale électrique

    power plant

  • centrale nucléaire

    nuclear power plant

  • centrale hydroélectrique

    hydroelectric power plant

Similar words

centrale électrique: A facility designed to produce electrical power.
usine: A factory or facility that processes materials into goods.
centrale nucléaire: A nuclear-powered plant for generating electricity.
barrage: A dam built to block or control a river.

Definition in French

Installation destinée à produire de l'électricité pour une ville, une région ou un réseau.

Word origin

The noun centrale developed by substantivizing the adjective central, from Latin centralis, and its power-related use comes from the shortened phrase centrale électrique.

Usage tips

  • Centrale électrique makes the power-station meaning explicit when context does not identify the intended sense.

Other meanings

  • central officenoun
  • nerve centernoun

Related words

Word lists with this word