French word

rail

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁaj/

Meaning

  • masculine nounrail

Example

Le rail est rouillé.

The rail is rusty.

Illustration for rail (rail)

More examples

Après une période difficile, le projet est enfin sur les rails.

After a difficult period, the project is finally on track.

Core concept

A sturdy metal bar forming one side of the path that guides a train wheel.

Common phrases

  • être sur les rails

    be on track

  • remettre sur les rails

    put back on track

  • sortir des rails

    go off track

Similar words

voie: A section of track or route built for trains to travel along.
voie ferrée: A railway track made of rails, sleepers, and related components.
chemin de fer: A railway line or the railway system as a whole.

Definition in French

Barre métallique longue sur laquelle roulent les roues d'un train.

Word origin

French rail entered railway vocabulary from English rail during the nineteenth-century spread of rail transport.

Usage tips

  • Rail is masculine, so standard forms include un rail and le rail.

Word lists with this word