patio
The French word for patio is patio.
The term patio refers to a paved outside area adjoining a house that is used for dining or recreation. While patio is used for paved surfaces, you may encounter other terms for different types of outdoor spaces: Véranda is a formal term for a covered and enclosed patio and cours is a formal term for a large outdoor area or courtyard.
Meaning: a paved outside area, adjoining a house, used for dining or recreation (noun)
Which one should you use?
While patio refers specifically to a paved area, the word terrasse is more commonly used in French to describe any outdoor seating area, such as a deck, a balcony or a terrace at a cafe.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun patio is masculine, as indicated by the masculine article le in the phrase le patio.
Did you know?
- The word patio entered the French language via Spanish, making it a linguistic traveler that moved from the Iberian Peninsula into French.
- While patio describes a private home area, a terrasse is the iconic social heart of French city life, referring to the outdoor seating areas of cafes and bars where people watch the street.
- The phrase en terrasse is used as an adverbial expression to describe the act of sitting outside at a cafe, regardless of whether the surface is a 'patio' or a 'terrace'.
Examples in context
- Disposes-tu d'une table sur le patio ?Do you have a table on the patio?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a table on the patio.Tatoeba #1356297 by sacredceltic, translation #502617 by CK
- Avez-vous une table dans le patio ?Do you have a table in the patio?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a table in the patio.Tatoeba #783500 by melospawn, translation #277537 by Swift
- J'adore passer du temps sur ma terrasseI love spending time on my patio.
- Allons prendre un café dans la cour derrière la maisonLet's have coffee in the patio behind the house.
- On se retrouve en terrasse pour un verre ce soirLet's meet on the patio for a drink tonight.
- Passons la soirée dans le jardin, sur la terrasseLet's spend the evening in the garden, on the patio.
- Nous allons déjeuner sur le patio.We are going to have lunch on the patio.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are deciding where to eat lunch at home.
- NathanIl fait très beau aujourd'hui.The weather is very beautiful today.
- LéaTu veux manger sur le patio ?Do you want to eat on the patio?
- NathanOui, c'est une excellente idée.Yes, that is an excellent idea.
- LéaJe vais chercher les assiettes.I will go get the plates.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries patio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
