French word

coupole

Pronunciation

IPA/kupɔl/

Meaning

  • feminine noundome

Example

La coupole de la cathédrale est impressionnante.

The cathedral's dome is impressive.

Illustration for coupole (dome)

More examples

La coupole en verre laisse entrer beaucoup de lumière.

The glass dome lets in a lot of light.

Core concept

A rounded shell crowns a building, curving upward like a bowl or bell.

Similar words

toit: The full roof that covers a building and shields it from rain and wind.
dôme: A large dome-shaped roof or structure forming a building's uppermost part.

Definition in French

Structure de couverture arrondie qui forme le sommet d'un édifice, souvent hémisphérique ou en forme de cloche.

Word origin

French coupole comes through Italian cupola from Latin cupula, a diminutive of cupa, a word for a tub or barrel, referring to a rounded covering.

Usage tips

  • Coupole is feminine, so the standard form is une coupole, not un coupole.

Word lists with this word