French Conversation · Level 56
75 words
French word
ravin
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁavɛ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounravine
Example
La voiture est tombée dans le ravin.
The car fell into the ravine.
More examples
Les enfants jouent au bord du ravin.
The children are playing at the edge of the ravine.
Core concept
A narrow valley with steep sides, carved by running water and often holding a small stream at its bottom.
Common phrases
tomber dans le ravin
fall into the ravine
être au bord du ravin
be at the edge of the ravine
au fond du ravin
at the bottom of the ravine
Similar words
vallée: A wide low area between hills or mountains, often containing a river.
gorge: A deeply river-cut valley so narrow that its sides form sheer cliffs.
fossé: A shallow channel cut into the ground.
ravine: A small, steep-sided valley formed by rainwater or a minor stream.
Definition in French
Petite vallée étroite et escarpée creusée par l'eau, parfois avec un ruisseau au fond.
Word origin
Ravin comes from Old French ravine and is related to raviner, a verb for land being cut or washed away by running water.
Usage tips
- Ravin is masculine, so the usual form is un ravin, with the plural des ravins.