French Conversation · Level 73
60 words
French word
encombrement
Pronunciation
IPA/ɑ̃kɔ̃bʁəmɑ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nouncongestion
Example
Les fêtes entraînent souvent un encombrement dans les transports.
Holidays often cause congestion on public transportation.
More examples
Le matin, il y a souvent un encombrement du trafic.
In the morning, there is often traffic congestion.
Core concept
A mass of people or objects that presses into a space and slows or blocks what should pass through it.
Common phrases
encombrement du trafic
traffic congestion
encombrement aux heures de pointe
rush-hour congestion
Similar words
embouteillage: A road traffic jam where vehicles move extremely slowly or remain stationary.
bouchon: An informal term for cars or people stuck together in a confined stretch.
foule: A mass of people so tightly gathered that moving becomes difficult.
congestion: A traffic condition in which excessive volume causes the flow to slow or stop.
Definition in French
Terme employé pour désigner une congestion ou un obstacle causé par un volume excessif d'objets ou de personnes perturbant le fonctionnement d'un lieu ou d'un service.
Word origin
Encombrement derives from encombrer, an Old French verb for obstructing a space, plus the productive noun suffix -ment.
Usage tips
- For a traffic jam specifically, French commonly uses embouteillage, while encombrement also covers broader obstruction or overcrowding.
Other meanings
- traffic jamnoun
- hindrancenoun
- bulkinessnoun
Opposites
- fluiditéfluiditynoun
Related words
- encombrerobstructverb
- encombrécrowdedadjective
- encombrantbulkyadjective