la bicyclette
bicycle
Definition & meaning
The word bicyclette refers to a human-powered, pedal-driven vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. It is a common mode of personal transportation, exercise, and sport.
In colloquial French, it is very frequently referred to by its shortened form, vélo .
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- Part of speech: Noun, feminine (une bicyclette).
- Plural: bicyclettes.
Word origin: The term is formed from the prefix bi- (meaning "two," from Latin bis) and cyclette, which is a diminutive of the Greek-derived word cycle (from kuklos, meaning "circle" or "wheel"). It entered the French language in the late 19th century as the design of the "safety bicycle" replaced the older "penny-farthing" (known in French as le grand-bi).
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- vélo (the most common everyday term)
- petite reine (a common idiomatic expression for the bicycle, often used in sports journalism)
- bécane (slang term, can also refer to a motorcycle)
- cycle (formal or technical term)
Antonyms: There are no direct antonyms for a noun representing a physical object like a bicycle. However, one could contrast it with motorized transport such as:
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Examples
Je roule sur ma bicyclette.noun
I ride on my bicycle.
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