French Conversation · Level 47
73 words
French word
surface
Pronunciation
IPA/syʁfas/
Meaning
- feminine nounsurface
Example
La surface de la table est rayée.
The surface of the table is scratched.
More examples
Sur la surface de l'eau, la lumière crée des reflets.
On the surface of the water, light creates reflections.
Core concept
An object's exposed outer face viewed as a continuous area.
Common phrases
la surface de
the surface of ___
sur la surface
on the surface
la surface extérieure
the outer surface
Similar words
face: An object's outward-facing visible area.
côté: A side of an object.
dessus: The surface on top of an object.
dessous: The surface underneath an object.
Definition in French
Face externe et visible d'un objet ; sens connexe : l'étendue de cette face, parfois exprimée comme aire.
Word origin
Surface derives from Latin superficies, whose parts are super, 'above', and facies, 'face'; Old French transmitted the word into modern French.
Usage tips
- In French surface, the final e is silent, and the French u in the first syllable is pronounced with a rounded vowel unlike the English vowel in 'surface'.