French word

département

Pronunciation

IPA/depaʁtəmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noundepartment

Example

J'habite dans ce département.

I live in this department.

Illustration for département (department)

More examples

On visite souvent la préfecture du département.

We often visit the department prefecture.

Core concept

A numbered region on a map that groups local public services under one administrative area.

Common phrases

  • un département français

    a French department

  • la préfecture du département

    the department prefecture

Similar words

région: A broad administrative region governing an extensive territory.
commune: A basic municipality providing local government services to residents.
préfecture: An administrative office or seat that oversees a department.
arrondissement: An internal division of a city or department for local administration.

Definition in French

Territoire administratif portant un nom et souvent un numéro, destiné à organiser les services publics locaux.

Word origin

Département comes from Old French departement, formed from departir, meaning to divide or separate, with the suffix -ment; the territorial sense dates from the French Revolution.

Usage tips

  • Département is masculine, so the usual forms are un département, ce département, and dans ce département.

Related words

  • départementairedepartmentaladjective

Word lists with this word