French Conversation · Level 123
59 words
French word
onde
Pronunciation
IPA/ɔ̃d/
Meaning
- feminine nounwave
Example
L'onde a atteint la rive.
The wave reached the shore.
More examples
L'onde radio a traversé la pièce.
The radio wave crossed the room.
Core concept
A traveling pattern of rises and falls spreads outward through water, air, or an electromagnetic field.
Common phrases
onde radio
radio wave
onde sonore
sound wave
onde de choc
shock wave
Similar words
vague: A rise and fall of the surface of the sea, a lake, or similar water.
son: Vibrations in air or another medium that reach the ear and can be heard.
bruit: An irregular, unwanted sound or collection of sounds.
Definition in French
Perturbation qui se propage dans un milieu et transporte de l'énergie ou de l'information, par exemple une onde sonore, une onde électromagnétique ou une onde à la surface de l'eau.
Word origin
French inherited onde from Old French forms descended from Latin unda, while onduler developed from the same wave-related family.
Usage tips
- In figurative phrases, une onde de joie or une onde de choc describes a spreading wave of feeling or impact, not literal water movement.
Other meanings
- radio wavenoun
- vibrationnoun
Related words
- ondulerundulateverb
- ondulationundulationnoun
- onduléwavyadjective