la rive
bank · shore
C’est le bord d’un lac, d’une rivière ou d’un fleuve, là où l’eau touche la terre.
The French word "rive" refers to the bank or shore of a body of water, such as a river, lake, or sea. It denotes the land bordering water.
Meaning:
- Rive = the edge or side of a river, lake, or sea; the land alongside or opposite to the water.
Examples:
- La rive du fleuve (the riverbank)
- La rive gauche / droite (left/right bank)
Synonyms and differences:
-
Bord
- Means "edge" or "border" and can be used more generally (e.g., bord de la mer - seaside, bord de la route - roadside).
- Less specific to rivers or lakes, and can apply to any boundary or edge.
-
Baie
- Means "bay," a specific coastal indentation where land curves inward.
- Unlike "rive," "baie" refers to a geographical formation, not just the edge or bank.
-
Plage
- Means "beach," a sandy or pebbly area along the shore.
- More specific and refers to a place for recreation, while "rive" simply refers to the margin or bank.
Summary:
- Rive is specifically the side of a river or any freshwater/saltwater body.
- It is distinct from more general terms like bord (edge) and from more specialized ones like baie (bay) or plage (beach).
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Examples
Nous marchons sur la rive du fleuve.noun
We are walking on the bank of the river.
Ils ont construit une petite cabane en bois près de la rive.noun
They built a small wooden cabin near the shore.
Après la pluie, les rives étaient glissantes et nous sommes rentrés prudemment.noun
After the rain, the banks were slippery and we went home carefully.
As-tu vu les oiseaux sur l’autre rive ce matin ?noun
Did you see the birds on the other bank this morning?
Le pêcheur attendait calmement sur la rive, avec son panier vide.noun
The fisherman waited calmly on the bank, with his empty basket.
Les promeneurs se reposaient sur la rive en regardant le coucher du soleil.noun
The walkers were resting on the bank while watching the sunset.
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