French word

rivière

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁivjɛʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounriver

Example

Les enfants pêchent près de la rivière.

The children are fishing near the river.

Illustration for rivière (river)

More examples

Nous avons fait un pique-nique au bord de la rivière.

We had a picnic by the river.

Core concept

A winding ribbon of fresh water with visible banks, flowing toward a lake or another watercourse.

Common phrases

  • au bord de la rivière

    by the river

  • pêcher dans la rivière

    fish in the river

  • longer la rivière

    go along the river

Similar words

fleuve: A long, wide river that flows into the sea or a large lake.
ruisseau: A narrow, shallow stream that usually carries little water.

Definition in French

Petit ou moyen cours d'eau douce, bordé de rives et souvent sinueux, qui traverse collines ou plaines avant de rejoindre un lac ou un autre cours d'eau.

Word origin

The French noun rivière developed from Old French riviere, ultimately derived from Latin riparia, a word associated with a riverbank.

Usage tips

  • French often contrasts rivière with fleuve: a fleuve reaches the sea, while a rivière flows into another watercourse or a lake.

Opposites

Word lists with this word