French Conversation · Level 43
75 words
French word
urbain
Pronunciation
IPA/yʁbɛ̃/
Meaning
- adjectiveurban
Example
J'habite dans un quartier urbain.
I live in an urban neighborhood.
More examples
La vie urbaine offre souvent de nombreuses activités culturelles.
Urban life often offers many cultural activities.
Core concept
A city landscape of buildings, streets, transport, and concentrated human activity rather than open countryside.
Common phrases
vie urbaine
urban life
centre urbain
urban center
transports urbains
urban transportation
Similar words
citadin: Concerned with people living in cities and their everyday lives.
suburbain: Found in or characteristic of residential areas surrounding a city.
rural: Connected with rural areas, farmland, and life outside the cities.
Definition in French
Relatif à la ville, à son organisation et à la vie urbaine, par opposition à la campagne.
Word origin
French urbain comes from Latin urbanus, 'of the city', derived from urbs, 'city', and entered French through earlier forms of the language.
Usage tips
- Urbain is more formal and administrative than en ville or dans la ville, especially in discussions of planning and public policy.