French Conversation · Level 154
30 words
French word
fiacre
Pronunciation
IPA/fjakʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounhorse-drawn cab
Example
À Paris, on voit parfois un fiacre.
In Paris, you sometimes see a horse-drawn cab.
More examples
Le mot fiacre désigne une voiture à chevaux utilisée autrefois comme taxi.
The word fiacre refers to a horse-drawn carriage once used as a taxi.
Core concept
A four-wheeled horse-drawn cab carrying paying passengers through a city.
Similar words
taxi: A car that carries passengers for a fare.
voiture: A general-purpose car used to carry people.
calèche: A small horse-drawn carriage often used for sightseeing.
Definition in French
Voiture tirée par des chevaux, à quatre roues, utilisée autrefois pour transporter des passagers contre paiement.
Word origin
The noun comes from the Hôtel de Saint-Fiacre in Paris, where horse-drawn carriages for hire were stationed, so the inn's name became the vehicle's name.
Usage tips
- Fiacre is old-fashioned and usually evokes historical or tourist settings; modern French normally uses taxi for a paid car ride.