French Conversation · Level 109
60 words
French word
raide
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁɛd/
Meaning
- adjectivestiff
Example
J'ai le dos raide.
My back is stiff.
More examples
La pente raide a rendu la montée difficile.
The steep slope made the climb difficult.
Core concept
Something firm and unbending, like a part of the body held tight or material that will not fold easily.
Common phrases
dos raide
stiff back
pente raide
steep slope
geste raide
stiff gesture
Similar words
rigide: Hard to bend and lacking flexibility.
tendu: Pulled tight and under tension.
dur: Hard and resistant to changing shape.
Definition in French
Qui ne se plie pas facilement et reste dur ou tendu, surtout pour une partie du corps, un tissu ou un objet.
Word origin
French inherited raide from Old French, with the word ultimately linked to a Germanic term for straightness or tension.
Usage tips
- Raide can also mean steep when it describes a slope or climb, so une pente raide means a steep slope.
Other meanings
- straightadjective
- steepadjective
Opposites
- soupleflexibleadjective
- détendurelaxedadjective
Related words
- raidirstiffenverb
- raideurstiffnessnoun
- raidissementstiffeningnoun