French Conversation · Level 80
60 words
French word
digue
Pronunciation
IPA/dig/
Meaning
- feminine noundike
Example
La digue protège le village contre la mer.
The dike protects the village from the sea.
More examples
Après la tempête, la digue a besoin de réparations.
After the storm, the dike needs repairs.
Core concept
A linear bank built along a coast or waterway to defend low ground from flooding and redirect the flow.
Common phrases
construire une digue
build a dike
réparer la digue
repair the dike
Similar words
barrage: A solid structure built to block water, store it, or regulate its level.
jetée: A projecting structure that shelters boats from waves and may serve as a mooring place.
quai: A flat waterfront area used for embarking, disembarking, and handling cargo.
promenade: A path along the sea or a river for walking and admiring the view.
Definition in French
Ouvrage de protection, souvent linéaire, servant à arrêter ou détourner l'eau du littoral pour protéger les terres basses.
Word origin
The French noun digue is a borrowing of Dutch dijk, whose basic meaning is a raised bank or embankment beside water.
Usage tips
- In coastal towns, la digue can also refer to the promenade along or on the sea barrier, so context distinguishes the path from the structure.
Other meanings
- breakwaternoun
- seawallnoun