caravane
/ka.ʁa.van/feminine
The English word caravan can be translated into French as caravane. Wiktionary also lists roulotte.
Meaning: vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| caravane | /ka.ʁa.van/ | feminine |
| roulotte | /ʁu.lɔt/ | feminine |
The term refers to a vehicle. It can also describe a group of travelers, such as a camel caravan, moving through a desert.
Which one should you use?
While caravane is used for the vehicle, it can also mean a group of travelers moving together. The form roulotte is also used to refer to a caravan.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the word roulotte is used frequently to refer to a caravan.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ka.ʁa.van/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word caravane is used in French to name the famous 'caravane publicitaire' that precedes the cyclists in the Tour de France.
- The word caravane traces its lineage back to the Persian word kârvân, which describes a line of travelers through the desert.
- In France, the term roulotte is often used to describe a stationary, traditional wooden wagon converted into a cozy garden room or guest house.
Examples in context
- Ils vivent dans une caravane.They live in a caravan.This sentence shows how to express living in a caravane.Tatoeba #12218138 by lbdx, translation #9493935 by sundown
- Il a attelé la caravane à sa voiture.He hitched the caravan to his car.This sentence is useful for describing hitching a caravane to a car.Tatoeba #9973490 by lbdx, translation #2674694 by merlin
- Une longue caravane de chameaux se déplaçait vers l'ouest.A long caravan of camel was heading to the West.This sentence demonstrates the use of caravane to describe a group of travelers.Tatoeba #135693 by sacredceltic, translation #683966 by jakov
- Où puis-je trouver une caravane à louer?Where can I find a caravan to rent?
- Je cherche une roulotte d'occasion à acheterI'm looking for a used caravan to buy
- On va faire du camping en caravane ce week-end!We're going camping in a caravan this weekend!
- J'ai passé mes vacances dans une roulotte près du lacI spent my vacation in a caravan near the lake
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are planning a summer holiday trip.
- EmmaEst-ce qu'on peut louer une caravane ?Can we rent a caravan?
- NathanOui, une petite caravane serait parfaite pour nous.Yes, a small caravan would be perfect for us.
- EmmaNathan, est-ce que la caravane est assez grande ?Nathan, is the caravan big enough?
- NathanElle semble assez spacieuse pour deux personnes.It seems spacious enough for two people.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “caravan” translations and entries caravane, roulotte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caravane, roulotte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
