French word

détroit

Pronunciation

IPA/detʁwa/

Meaning

  • masculine nounstrait

Example

Nous avons traversé le détroit en bateau.

We crossed the strait by boat.

Illustration for détroit (strait)

More examples

Le détroit de Gibraltar est stratégique pour le trafic maritime.

The Strait of Gibraltar is strategic for maritime traffic.

Core concept

A narrow seawater bottleneck linking larger waters, with coasts pressing close on both sides.

Common phrases

  • traverser le détroit

    cross the strait

  • le détroit de Gibraltar

    the Strait of Gibraltar

Similar words

canal: A man-made waterway built or maintained for boats and ships.
baie: A broad inlet where a sea or lake extends into the land.

Definition in French

Étendue d'eau étroite entre deux côtes ou deux plans d'eau, formant une voie de passage maritime.

Word origin

Détroit comes through Old French destroit from Latin districtus, meaning confined or tightly enclosed, and became a geographic noun for such a passage.

Usage tips

  • A named strait commonly appears as le détroit de followed by a place name, as in le détroit de Gibraltar.

Word lists with this word