French Conversation · Level 101
60 words
French word
muraille
Pronunciation
IPA/myʁaj/
Meaning
- feminine nounwall
Example
La muraille protège la ville.
The wall protects the city.
More examples
La muraille de la ville témoigne de son histoire.
The city wall bears witness to its history.
Core concept
A tall, thick outer wall enclosing a city or fortress and keeping attackers out.
Common phrases
la muraille de Chine
the Great Wall of China
la muraille de la ville
the city wall
une muraille médiévale
a medieval wall
Similar words
mur: An ordinary wall dividing a building or room.
rempart: A high, sturdy defensive wall protecting a castle or town.
Definition in French
Mur extérieur, élevé et épais, généralement en pierre, qui entoure et protège une ville, un château ou une fortification.
Word origin
Muraille comes through Old French from Latin muralia, the neuter plural of muralis, which derives from murus, meaning wall.
Usage tips
- Muraille is feminine, so the usual article is la, as in la muraille; ordinary household walls are usually called un mur.