côte
/kot/
The English phrase 'cote' is translated into French as côte.
The word côte refers to a slope or a hill, often referring to a rising section of a road.
Which one should you use?
The word côte (with a circumflex) refers to a slope, whereas cote (without a circumflex) refers to a rating or a valuation. The word for a slope, côte, is often confused with côté, which means side.
How do you pronounce it?
/kot/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse côte with côté (side) or cote (rating/valuation), as they have different meanings.
Did you know?
- Because côte can mean a rib, it is also used in French culinary terms to describe a specific cut of meat, like a 'côte de boeuf'.
- The circumflex accent in côte is a historical marker that often indicates where an 's' used to exist in the word's older forms, such as the Old French 'coste'.
- Cyclists in the Tour de France use the term hors catégorie to describe a côte that is too difficult to be ranked.
Examples in context
- La belle côte de la France offre des vues magnifiques sur la mer.The beautiful coastline of France offers magnificent views of the sea.
- Je vais te rejoindre du côté droit du pont.I will meet you on the right side of the bridge.
- La voiture monte la côte.The car is going up the hill.
- Il y a une forte côte ici.There is a steep slope here.
- Nous avons monté la côte à vélo.We climbed the hill by bike.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are out for a bike ride in the countryside.
- LucasCette côte est vraiment difficile.This hill is really difficult.
- EmmaTu peux la monter, Lucas.You can climb it, Lucas.
- LucasJe suis très fatigué.I am very tired.
- EmmaOn arrive bientôt en haut de la côte.We will reach the top of the hill soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry côte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
