French word

terrain

Pronunciation

IPA/tɛʁɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounland

Example

Ce terrain est à vendre.

This land is for sale.

Illustration for terrain (land)

More examples

Ils ont acheté un terrain à la campagne.

They bought a plot of land in the countryside.

Core concept

A bounded piece of ground viewed as a surface for a particular activity or purpose.

Common phrases

  • acheter un terrain

    buy a plot of land

  • un terrain vague

    vacant lot

  • un terrain de sport

    sports field

Similar words

propriété: Land or property belonging to a private owner.
terre: Soil and earth found at the surface of the ground.
sol: The surface people walk on, either outdoors or inside a building.
champ: A large cultivated field used to grow crops.

Definition in French

Étendue de terre délimitée, souvent destinée à un usage précis comme la construction, l'agriculture ou le sport.

Word origin

Terrain comes through Old French from Latin terrenum, the neuter form of terrenus, meaning 'of earth', from terra, 'earth'.

Usage tips

  • Terrain is masculine, so standard forms include un terrain and ce terrain.

Other meanings

  • sports fieldnoun
  • groundnoun
  • domainnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word