French word

raz

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁa/

Meaning

  • masculine nountidal race

Example

Pendant la marée, le raz est très dangereux.

The tidal race is very dangerous when the tide is running.

Illustration for raz (tidal race)

More examples

Les navigateurs ont évité le raz près de l'estuaire.

The sailors avoided the tidal bore near the estuary.

Core concept

Violent water rushing through a confined channel between larger bodies of water.

Common phrases

  • raz de marée

    tidal bore

Similar words

courant: A continuous movement of water or air in a set direction.
vague: A wave forming on the sea surface under the influence of wind.
marée: The regular change in sea level as the tide rises and falls.

Definition in French

Courant marin ou fluvial très rapide et violent, souvent localisé dans un passage étroit.

Word origin

The noun raz entered French from Breton usage, ultimately linked to Old Norse rás for a running or rushing movement.

Usage tips

  • Raz-de-marée is a fixed expression for a tidal wave or overwhelming surge, not simply the noun raz alone.

Opposites

Related words

  • raz-de-maréetsunaminoun

Word lists with this word