French Conversation · Level 61
71 words
French word
détour
Pronunciation
IPA/detuʁ/
Meaning
- masculine noundetour
Example
On a fait un détour pour éviter les travaux.
We took a detour to avoid the construction work.
More examples
J'ai fait un petit détour pour acheter du pain.
I took a little detour to buy some bread.
Core concept
A route bends away from the direct course to go around a blockage or pass through another place.
Common phrases
faire un petit détour
take a little detour
Similar words
itinéraire: A route planned in advance for a journey.
trajet: The distance or route traveled from one place to another.
déviation: A temporary alternative route marked around roadwork or an accident.
parcours: A series of routes followed for a particular purpose.
Definition in French
Trajet qui s'écarte de la route directe pour contourner un obstacle ou passer par un autre lieu.
Word origin
Détour comes from Old French destor, formed from de- for moving away and tour for a turn, and names a route that turns aside.
Usage tips
- The usual phrase is faire un détour, with par introducing the place taken en route, as in faire un détour par Lyon.