French Conversation · Level 104
60 words
French word
préau
Pronunciation
IPA/pʁeo/
Meaning
- masculine nouncovered playground
Example
Les enfants se réfugient sous le préau quand il pleut.
The children take shelter in the covered playground when it rains.
More examples
Le préau de l'école est rempli de bancs.
The school's covered courtyard is filled with benches.
Core concept
A sheltered open-air court that provides a dry, shaded place for people to gather.
Common phrases
le préau de l'école
the school's covered courtyard
sous le préau
under the covered courtyard
Similar words
cour: A broad outdoor space around or within a building.
terrasse: A level outdoor area beside a building for sitting or dining.
porche: A narrow covered outdoor space near an entrance.
patio: A small outdoor courtyard enclosed by a house or building.
Definition in French
Cour ou aire attenante munie d'un toit, ouverte sur l'extérieur et utilisée pour des activités protégées du soleil ou de la pluie.
Word origin
The noun préau traces back to Old French prael and ultimately to Latin pratellum, the diminutive of pratum, 'meadow'.
Usage tips
- In school contexts, le préau commonly denotes the covered area where pupils gather during breaks, whereas cour alone does not imply a roof.
Other meanings
- covered courtyardnoun
Opposites
- courschoolyardnoun