French word

savane

Pronunciation

IPA/savan/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsavanna

Example

On a traversé la savane au coucher du soleil.

We crossed the savanna at sunset.

Illustration for savane (savanna)

More examples

Nous avons aperçu un groupe de girafes dans la savane.

We spotted a group of giraffes in the savanna.

Core concept

A broad tropical grassland of tall grasses, scattered trees, and strongly contrasting dry and rainy seasons.

Common phrases

  • la savane africaine

    African savanna

  • la savane tropicale

    tropical savanna

  • dans la savane

    in the savanna

Similar words

prairie: Flat grassland of continuous short grass used for grazing or hay.
plaine: A broad, level expanse of land used for farmland or grassland.

Definition in French

Écosystème tropical dominé par des herbacées et des arbres clairsemés, caractérisé par une alternance marquée entre saison sèche et saison des pluies.

Word origin

French savane came through Spanish sabana from Taíno zabana, a word for an open plain.

Usage tips

  • Savane is feminine, so standard forms include la savane, une savane, and la savane africaine.

Opposites

Word lists with this word