îles
The English word "islands" is translated into French as îles.
The word îles refers to pieces of land that are completely surrounded by water. If you are referring to a group or chain of islands, you can use the term archipel (archipelago).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Haiti and the Caribbean, the term les cayes is used to refer to both small islands and barrier reefs. In regions such as the South Pacific or the Maldives, les atolls is used to describe specific types of islands.
Did you know?
- In French culinary terms, an île flottante or 'floating island' is a dessert consisting of meringue floating on a sea of crème anglaise.
- The term île-de-France refers to the region surrounding Paris, despite the fact that the area is not an island.
- In French, the word île can also refer to a 'traffic island' (île centrale), which is the pedestrian area in the middle of a road.
Examples in context
- Il y a des îles sur la mer.There are islands in the sea.This sentence shows the use of îles to indicate location in the sea.Tatoeba #3663254 by gillux, translation #3663249 by shekitten
- La Grèce a beaucoup d'îles.Greece has many islands.This sentence uses îles to describe a country's geography.Tatoeba #6820564 by Rockaround, translation #2122300 by freddy1
- La Chine construit des îles.China is building islands.This sentence uses îles to describe the construction of landmasses.Tatoeba #11040841 by Amastan, translation #11038984 by Amastan
- Nous avons visité les plus belles îles de la Méditerranée.We visited the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean.
- Les îlots au large de la côte sont parfaits pour se détendre.The islets off the coast are perfect for relaxation.
- Le paysage est magnifique avec ses nombreuses cayes aux eaux turquoise.The landscape is stunning with its numerous cayes and turquoise waters.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are planning a vacation.
- GabrielJe veux visiter des îles cet été.I want to visit some islands this summer.
- ManonQuelles îles veux-tu voir, Gabriel ?Which islands do you want to see, Gabriel?
- GabrielJ'aime beaucoup les îles des Caraïbes.I really like the Caribbean islands.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Manon est d'accord.That's a great idea, Manon agrees.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
