Caen
/kɑ̃/
Caen is the French name for a city located in the Calvados department of France.
Meaning: city in Calvados, France (name)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kɑ̃/.
Did you know?
- The city is the birthplace of William the Conqueror, who is known in French as Guillaume le Conquérant.
- The name Caen is a rare example of a city name that preserves a Gaulish compound word into modern French, unlike most which were heavily Latinized.
- In French, the city is often referred to as la ville des ducs because it was the seat of the Dukes of Normandy.
Examples in context
- Je ne sais pas si je vais aller à Caen ou à Troyes.I don't know if I am going to go to Caen or to Troyes.This sentence is useful for expressing uncertainty about a travel destination to Caen.Tatoeba #7669390 by tras, translation #8424507 by Yoihableak
- Je vais passer un week-end à Caen.I am going to spend a weekend in Caen.
- Il y a un beau château à Caen.There is a beautiful castle in Caen.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their travel plans for the weekend.
- ChloéTu vas où ce week-end ?Where are you going this weekend?
- LucasJe vais rendre visite à ma famille à Caen.I am going to visit my family in Caen.
- ChloéC'est une très jolie ville.It is a very pretty city.
- LucasOui, j'aime beaucoup l'ambiance là-bas.Yes, I really like the atmosphere there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “caen” translations and entries Caen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Caen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
