French word

rocaille

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁokaj/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrock garden

Example

Les fleurs sont plantées près de la rocaille.

The flowers are planted near the rock garden.

Illustration for rocaille (rock garden)

More examples

Le chat dort souvent sur la rocaille.

The cat often sleeps on the rockery.

Core concept

A small planted garden mound built from decorative stones.

Common phrases

  • au bord de la rocaille

    by the edge of the rockery

Similar words

parterre: A planted section of ground used to display flowers or other plants.
massif: A garden bed or raised area where flowers and shrubs are planted together.
muret: A short stone or brick wall used in a garden or along a boundary.
plate-bande: A narrow, elongated flower bed beside a path or garden edge.

Definition in French

Construction décorative de pierres formant un petit monticule planté dans un jardin.

Word origin

Rocaille combines French roc, meaning 'rock', with the suffix -aille, which forms a collective noun for rocky material.

Usage tips

  • La rocaille is feminine, so standard forms include une rocaille and cette rocaille.

Word lists with this word