French word

colline

Pronunciation

IPA/kolin/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhill

Example

La colline domine le village.

The hill overlooks the village.

Illustration for colline (hill)

More examples

Il y a un sentier sur la colline.

There is a path on the hill.

Core concept

A rounded rise of land standing above a plain but below the scale of a mountain.

Common phrases

  • sur la colline

    on the hill

Similar words

montagne: A large mountain rising high above the surrounding land and suitable for climbing.
vallée: A long, low area enclosed by higher ground on both sides.
butte: A small, distinct mound slightly above the surrounding land.
plateau: A broad, flat stretch of elevated land.

Definition in French

Terre légèrement surélevée, de forme souvent arrondie, qui dépasse la plaine mais n'atteint pas la taille d'une montagne.

Word origin

French colline comes through Italian collina from Latin collina, the feminine form of an adjective meaning "of a hill," from collis.

Usage tips

  • Colline is feminine, so standard phrases use une colline, sur la colline, and au sommet de la colline.

Opposites

Word lists with this word