noun

la ruelle

alley

Ruelle is a French noun that primarily means "alley" or "narrow street."

Meaning:

  • A ruelle refers to a small, narrow street or lane, often found in towns or villages. It is typically more confined than a standard street and may be used to describe charming or quaint passageways between buildings.
  • In a broader sense, it can suggest any narrow, confined path or walkway.

Parts:

  • The word ruelle is the diminutive form of rue (which means "street"). The suffix -elle often denotes something smaller or more endearing.

Synonyms:

  • allée (alley, lane)
  • impasse (dead-end street)
  • venelle (small street)
  • passage (passage, walkway)

Antonyms:

  • avenue (a wide street)
  • boulevard (broad street)

Summary:

A "ruelle" is a small, narrow street or alley, often associated with quaint or cozy urban or village settings, usually narrower than typical streets. It evokes an image of intimate, sometimes old-fashioned, pedestrian routes.

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Examples

La ruelle est très étroite.noun

The alley is very narrow.

Les enfants jouaient dans la ruelle après l’école.noun

The children were playing in the alley after school.

Nous avons traversé une ruelle sombre pour éviter la foule.noun

We crossed a dark alley to avoid the crowd.

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