French word

ruisseau

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁɥiso/

Meaning

  • masculine nounstream

Example

On se promène le long du ruisseau.

We are taking a walk along the stream.

Illustration for ruisseau (stream)

More examples

Nous avons traversé le ruisseau.

We crossed the stream.

Core concept

A narrow ribbon of shallow water winding over stones and grass from a spring or rainfall.

Common phrases

  • au bord du ruisseau

    by the stream

  • le long du ruisseau

    along the stream

  • un petit ruisseau

    a small stream

Similar words

rivière: A natural watercourse that follows a set channel into another river or the sea.
fleuve: A large river that flows from its source directly into the sea.
torrent: A swift mountain stream rushing forcefully along a short stretch.
canal: An artificial waterway dug for shipping, irrigation, or other purposes.

Definition in French

Petit cours d'eau naturel, peu profond et souvent étroit, formé par une source ou le ruissellement.

Word origin

French ruisseau comes from Old French ruissel, a diminutive of ruis, ultimately from Latin rivus, meaning a stream or bank.

Usage tips

  • Ruisseau is masculine, so the usual article is un: un ruisseau and les ruisseaux.

Related words

  • ruisselertrickleverb

Word lists with this word