French word

wagon

Pronunciation

IPA/vagɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nountrain car

Example

Le wagon numéro cinq est complet.

Train car number five is full.

Illustration for wagon (train car)

More examples

Nous avons réservé le wagon pour notre groupe.

We reserved the train car for our group.

Core concept

A box-shaped railway vehicle linked into a train, with seats and an aisle for passengers.

Common phrases

  • le wagon numéro cinq

    train car number five

  • prendre place dans le wagon

    sit down in the train car

Similar words

voiture: A passenger-carrying vehicle that forms part of a train.

Definition in French

Voiture d'un train, circulant sur rails et destinée au transport des voyageurs.

Word origin

French wagon was borrowed from English wagon, which comes from Dutch wagen, meaning a cart or wagon.

Usage tips

  • In standard French, voiture is often the usual term for a passenger railway carriage, while wagon can also refer to a freight vehicle.

Other meanings

  • freight carnoun

Related words

  • wagon-litsleeper carnoun

Word lists with this word