French word

métropolitain

Pronunciation

IPA/metʁopolitɛ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivemetropolitan

Example

La vie métropolitaine est dynamique.

Metropolitan life is dynamic.

Illustration for métropolitain (metropolitan)

More examples

La zone métropolitaine regroupe plusieurs communes.

The metropolitan area brings together several municipalities.

Core concept

A dense urban center and the connected region that depends on it for movement, work, and services.

Common phrases

  • vie métropolitaine

    metropolitan life

  • zone métropolitaine

    metropolitan area

Similar words

urbain: Having to do with cities, their character, or life within them.
citadin: Connected with people who live in a city or with urban life.

Definition in French

Qui se rapporte à une grande ville ou à sa région urbaine, à ses caractéristiques et à la vie qui s'y déroule.

Word origin

French métropolitain derives from métropole with the adjective suffix -ain, while métropole comes through Latin from Greek μητρόπολις, meaning "mother city."

Usage tips

  • Métropolitain is more formal and administrative than urbain, especially in phrases about a city's wider region or systems.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word