French word

colonial

Pronunciation

IPA/kolonjal/

Meaning

  • adjectivecolonial

Example

Ce pays garde des traces coloniales dans son architecture.

This country retains traces of its colonial past in its architecture.

Illustration for colonial (colonial)

More examples

Des monuments coloniaux témoignent de cette période.

Colonial monuments bear witness to this period.

Core concept

A territory shaped by the institutions and control of a distant ruling power.

Common phrases

  • époque coloniale

    colonial era

  • monument colonial

    colonial monument

  • lois coloniales

    colonial laws

Similar words

ancien: Characteristic of an earlier period or a previous condition.
historique: Connected with events or circumstances from the past.
traditionnel: Following long-established customs, methods, or styles.
local: Distinctive to a certain place or local area.

Definition in French

Relatif à une colonie, à son organisation ou au processus de colonisation.

Word origin

French colonial derives from Latin colonia, meaning "settlement," through colonialis, with -al marking a relation.

Usage tips

  • The singular form is colonial for both masculine and feminine nouns, but the masculine plural is coloniaux and the feminine plural is coloniales.

Opposites

  • décolonisédecolonizedadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word