French word

rame

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁam/

Meaning

  • feminine nountrain

Example

Une rame de métro arrive en gare.

A subway train arrives at the station.

Illustration for rame (train)

More examples

Une rame de métro est retardée ce matin.

A subway train is delayed this morning.

Core concept

One coordinated whole formed either by connected vehicles or by a single long implement for rowing.

Common phrases

  • une rame de métro

    subway train

  • une rame de train

    train consist

Similar words

train: A group of rail vehicles, often with a locomotive, that carries passengers or freight.
voiture: A single passenger railway car fitted with seats or separate compartments.

Definition in French

Groupe de véhicules ferroviaires reliés se déplaçant ensemble ; mot utilisé aussi pour désigner un aviron long.

Word origin

For rail transport, rame comes from an older French noun for a grouped set, whereas the oar sense continues Old French rame from Latin remus.

Usage tips

  • In transport, une rame usually means the entire train, while une voiture or un wagon identifies an individual vehicle.

Other meanings

  • oarnoun
  • rowverb

Related words

  • ramerrowverb
  • rameurrowernoun

Word lists with this word