French word

tempête

Pronunciation

IPA/tɑ̃pɛt/

Meaning

  • feminine nounstorm

Example

Nous restons chez nous pendant la tempête.

We stay at home during the storm.

Illustration for tempête (storm)

More examples

En cas de tempête, suivez les consignes de sécurité.

In case of a storm, follow the safety instructions.

Core concept

A wide area battered by violent winds, driving rain, and sometimes towering waves.

Common phrases

  • tempête de neige

    blizzard

  • alerte tempête

    storm warning

  • en cas de tempête

    in case of a storm

Similar words

orage: A storm with thunder and lightning that brings intense rain over a short time.
ouragan: A powerful tropical storm with extreme winds and heavy rain causing widespread damage.
tornade: A short-lived, rotating column of extremely strong wind that causes destruction over a narrow area.
rafale: A sudden burst of very strong wind lasting only briefly.

Definition in French

Perturbation atmosphérique avec des vents très violents pouvant causer des dégâts, souvent accompagnée de pluie ou de vagues hautes.

Word origin

French tempête comes through Old French tempeste from Latin tempestas, a word for weather, season, or storm.

Usage tips

  • Tempête is feminine, so the usual form is la tempête, as in pendant la tempête.

Opposites

  • accalmielullnoun
  • calmecalmnoun

Related words

  • tempêtercomplain bitterlyverb
  • tempétueuxtempestuousadjective

Word lists with this word