French word

lieue

Pronunciation

IPA/ljø/

Meaning

  • feminine nounleague

Example

Autrefois, on mesurait la route en lieues.

Formerly, the road was measured in leagues.

Illustration for lieue (league)

More examples

Son témoignage est à des lieues de la vérité.

His testimony is miles from the truth.

Core concept

One substantial stretch of road measured on a pre-metric journey, about four kilometers long.

Common phrases

  • être à des lieues de

    be miles from ___

Similar words

kilomètre: A metric unit of length equal to one thousand meters.
mètre: The standard metric unit of length, equal to one meter.
distance: The length or separation between two points.
étape: A distinct section of a journey or route.

Definition in French

Terme ancien désignant une mesure de longueur employée en France avant l'adoption du système métrique, correspondant approximativement à quatre kilomètres.

Word origin

The noun developed from Old French lieue, borrowed from Medieval Latin leuga, which came from a Celtic language of Gaul.

Usage tips

  • Modern French mostly preserves lieue in fixed expressions such as être à des lieues de, meaning to be far from something or very different from it.

Opposites

Word lists with this word