French Conversation · Level 38
75 words
French word
forteresse
Pronunciation
IPA/fɔʁtəʁɛs/
Meaning
- feminine nounfortress
Example
La vieille forteresse domine la ville.
The old fortress overlooks the city.
More examples
La ville organise des visites guidées de la forteresse.
The city organizes guided tours of the fortress.
Core concept
A defended stone stronghold whose walls and towers secure an important position.
Common phrases
visiter la forteresse
visit the fortress
la forteresse médiévale
the medieval fortress
les remparts de la forteresse
the fortress walls
Similar words
fort: A strong military base for housing troops and weapons against attack.
château: A large historic residence where a noble or lord lived and held events.
Definition in French
Lieu fortifié, souvent entouré de murs et de tours, conçu pour protéger une position stratégique ou une ville.
Word origin
Forteresse is an Old French formation based on fort and the suffix -eresse, and fort traces back to the Latin adjective fortis.
Usage tips
- Forteresse also applies figuratively to something strongly defended, as in une forteresse idéologique, not only to a physical building.
Other meanings
- strongholdnoun