French word

gradin

Pronunciation

IPA/gʁadɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nountiered seats

Example

Nous étions assis sur les gradins du théâtre.

We were sitting in the theater's tiered seats.

Illustration for gradin (tiered seats)

More examples

Les enfants grimpent parfois sur les gradins pour mieux voir.

The children sometimes climb onto the bleachers to see better.

Core concept

A bank of spectator seats that rises in successive steps, like a broad staircase.

Common phrases

  • les gradins

    the bleachers

  • les gradins du stade

    the stadium bleachers

  • sur les gradins

    on the bleachers

Similar words

tribune: A raised section of spectator seating in a stadium or large venue.
balcon: An upper-level seating area that projects from a theater or building.
siège: An individual chair or seat for someone to sit on.
place: A position or seat intended for someone to sit in.

Definition in French

Gradin désigne une rangée surélevée, formée en marches successives, servant de places pour les spectateurs dans un théâtre, un stade ou une salle.

Word origin

French gradin comes from Italian gradino, a diminutive of grado, from Latin gradus meaning a step or stage.

Usage tips

  • Gradin is masculine, so the singular forms are un gradin and le gradin; les gradins is common for the seating area.

Other meanings

  • stepnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word