gîte
/ʒit/
The English phrase 'gite' is translated into French as gîte.
A gîte refers to a furnished holiday cottage or a rented house in the French countryside.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒit/
Did you know?
- The word gîte is an etymological relative of the English word 'gestation', as both derive from the root meaning 'to lie' or 'to be located'.
- In French, a gîte can refer to a nest or a burrow, and the phrase gîte et couvert means providing both a place to sleep and a meal.
- While 'gîte' is a common term for a cottage, you will often see it paired as gîte d'étape to describe a specific type of budget accommodation for hikers or pilgrims.
Examples in context
- Viens passer le week-end dans notre nouveau gîte à la campagne !Come spend the weekend in our new holiday cottage in the countryside!
- Nous avons loué un gîte pour l'été.We rented a cottage for the summer.
- Le gîte est situé près de la rivière.The holiday cottage is located near the river.
- C'est un petit gîte très charmant.It is a very charming little cottage.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing their travel plans for the weekend.
- LéaEst-ce que tu as trouvé un gîte ?Did you find a cottage?
- GabrielOui, j'ai réservé un gîte en Normandie.Yes, I booked a cottage in Normandy.
- LéaC'est parfait pour tes vacances, Gabriel.That is perfect for your holidays, Gabriel.
- GabrielJ'espère que le gîte est confortable.I hope the cottage is comfortable.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gîte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gîte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
