ville natale
feminine
The English phrase 'hometown' is translated into French as ville natale.
ville natale refers to a place of birth or residence. It can be translated as 'birth town'.
Meaning: place of birth or residence (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ville (city) and natale (birth/native).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because ville is a feminine noun, the adjective natale must also take the feminine form ending in -e. To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take an -s, resulting in villes natales.
Did you know?
- Although it means 'city' in modern French, the word ville actually comes from the Latin word vīlla, which referred to a 'country house' or 'farmstead'.
- In a formal or poetic context, a writer might refer to their terroir instead of their ville natale to emphasize the land and local produce of their home region.
- In France, if someone asks where you are from, they may use the word origines, which refers not just to your ville natale but to your ancestral and ethnic background.
Examples in context
- Ma ville natale est très jolie.My hometown is very pretty.This sentence is useful for describing the appearance of your ville natale.Tatoeba #474781 by sacredceltic, translation #474080 by CM
- Il habite loin de sa ville natale.He lives far away from his hometown.This sentence is useful for stating that someone lives far from their ville natale.Tatoeba #3137376 by Aiji, translation #296161 by CK
- On l'a enterrée dans sa ville natale.She was buried in her hometown.This sentence is useful for describing a burial in one's ville natale.Tatoeba #537912 by zmoo, translation #315356 by CK
- Je suis originaire de Marseille, ma ville natale.I am originally from Marseille, my birth town.
- Mon bled me manque, j'aimerais y retourner bientôt.I miss my hometown, I'd love to go back soon.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are talking about where they grew up.
- HugoQuelle est ta ville natale, Manon ?What is your hometown, Manon?
- ManonMa ville natale est Lyon.My hometown is Lyon.
- HugoC'est une ville magnifique.It is a magnificent city.
- ManonOui, j'adore ma ville natale.Yes, I love my hometown.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hometown” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ville, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
