quai
/ke/
In French, the word for dock is quai.
quai refers to a fixed structure to which a vessel is secured. Note that if you are referring specifically to a vessel's berth, the nautical term is poste d'amarrage and if you mean a pier, use jetée.
Meaning: fixed structure to which a vessel is secured (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ke/
Did you know?
- The word quai is used for the platforms at train stations as well as for boat docks. If you are waiting for a train in Paris, you are waiting on the quai.
- The word quai is a doublet of the French word haie, which means 'hedge'. Both words evolved from the same root referring to an enclosure or a boundary.
- In many French cities, the word quai is used more as a street name than a maritime term, such as the famous Quai de la Tournelle in Paris.
Examples in context
- Les marins ont désamarré le navire du quai, se déliant de la terre, afin de regagner la mer.The sailors have unmoored the vessel from the dock, freed themselves from the land, to rejoin the sea.This sentence shows how to use quai when describing a vessel unmooring from the dock.Tatoeba #11906903 by zogwarg, translation #11906893 by zogwarg
- Vous pouvez trouver ce navire au quai numéro 5.You can find this ship at dock number 5.
- Rendez-vous au port à 10 heures.Meet at the dock at 10 o'clock.
- On se retrouve au quai d'accostage à la marina.Let's meet at the dock at the marina.
- Le bateau est amarré au quai.The boat is moored at the dock.
- Les passagers attendent sur le quai.The passengers are waiting on the dock.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are at the harbor watching a ship arrive.
- LéaRegarde, le navire approche enfin du quai.Look, the ship is finally approaching the dock.
- NathanC'est impressionnant, il est énorme.It's impressive, it is huge.
- LéaEst-ce qu'il va s'arrêter sur ce quai ?Is it going to stop at this dock?
- NathanOui, il semble venir vers nous.Yes, it seems to be coming towards us.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quai, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
