French Conversation · Level 75
60 words
French word
pourtour
Pronunciation
IPA/puʁtuʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounsurrounding area
Example
Le pourtour du lac est idéal pour une promenade.
The area around the lake is ideal for a walk.
More examples
Elle applique de la crème sur le pourtour des lèvres.
She applies cream to the area around her lips.
Core concept
A continuous outer zone wrapping around a thing, from its boundary into the immediately adjoining space.
Common phrases
le pourtour des lèvres
area around the lips
le pourtour du visage
contour of the face
Similar words
alentours: The nearby area or places around a location.
environs: The nearby area extending around a particular point.
rive: The strip of land along the edge of a river or lake.
bord: The outer edge or rim of an object or place.
Definition in French
Ensemble immédiat des alentours d'une chose, incluant sa bordure et les espaces qui la jouxtent.
Word origin
French formed pourtour by combining pour and tour, with tour descending from Latin tornus, a word for a turning movement.
Usage tips
- Pourtour is masculine, so the phrase uses le pourtour and contracts de le to du before a masculine singular noun.