French Conversation · Level 71
60 words
French word
rivage
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁivaʒ/
Meaning
- masculine nounshore
Example
Les enfants jouent près du rivage du lac.
The children are playing near the shore of the lake.
More examples
On a trouvé des coquillages sur le rivage.
We found shells on the shore.
Core concept
The land along a body of water, whether it borders a river, lake, or sea.
Common phrases
sur le rivage
on the shore
le long du rivage
along the shore
Similar words
plage: A sandy or pebbly shore used for recreation and walks.
rive: Land along the edge of a river or lake.
bord: The edge of land where it meets the water.
côte: Land and surrounding areas extending along a coastline.
Definition in French
Terre qui longe l'eau, formant la côte ou la berge d'une mer, d'un lac ou d'une rivière.
Word origin
French built rivage from rive and the suffix -age; rive developed from the Latin noun ripa for a bank or shore.
Usage tips
- Rivage has a somewhat literary or descriptive tone, while plage usually suggests a beach and rive more often suggests a riverbank or lakeshore.