French Conversation · Level 18
89 words
French word
dune
Pronunciation
IPA/dyn/
Meaning
- feminine noundune
Example
Nous avons escaladé la dune pour voir la mer.
We climbed the dune to see the sea.
More examples
La dune protège la plage du vent.
The dune protects the beach from the wind.
Core concept
A rounded ridge of sand whose crest shifts with the wind, often standing in a line beside the sea.
Common phrases
dune de sable
sand dune
sur la dune
on the dune
au pied de la dune
at the foot of the dune
Similar words
plage: A sandy or pebbly area bordering the sea.
sable: Fine grains of rock that form beaches and other sandy areas.
colline: A gently rising hill of moderate height.
Definition in French
Butte de sable modelée par le vent, fréquente près du littoral.
Word origin
French dune comes from Middle Dutch dūne, a word for a small hill, and came to name a wind-built sand hill.
Usage tips
- Dune is a feminine noun, so standard forms include une dune and une grande dune.