French word

périphérie

Pronunciation

IPA/peʁifeʁi/

Meaning

  • feminine nounoutskirts

Example

Le supermarché est en périphérie de la ville.

The supermarket is on the outskirts of the city.

Illustration for périphérie (outskirts)

More examples

Ma famille vit en périphérie depuis dix ans.

My family has lived in the suburbs for ten years.

Core concept

The uneven edge of a city, surrounding the core with a mixture of built-up districts and open spaces.

Common phrases

  • vivre en périphérie

    live in the suburbs

  • la périphérie métropolitaine

    the metropolitan suburbs

Similar words

banlieue: A mainly residential area outside the city center.
quartier: A small area of a town or city with homes and shops.
zone commerciale: An area with groups of large and specialty stores for shopping.
zone industrielle: An area where factories and distribution facilities are concentrated.

Definition in French

Zone située à l'extérieur du centre urbain, en bordure de la ville, comprenant souvent des zones résidentielles, industrielles ou des terrains non bâtis.

Word origin

The French noun périphérie was borrowed from Latin peripheria, which derives from Greek periphereia, meaning a line or area carried around something.

Usage tips

  • Banlieue usually points to a residential suburb, whereas périphérie can also include industrial, commercial, and undeveloped areas.

Other meanings

  • peripherynoun
  • suburbsnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word