rive droite
/ʁiv dʁwat/feminine
The English phrase "right bank" is translated into French as rive droite.
rive droite is used to refer to the bank of a river located to the right when facing downstream.
Meaning: river bank to the right when facing downstream (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of rive (bank/shore) and droite (right).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because rive is a feminine noun, the definite article used is la in the phrase la rive droite.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁiv dʁwat/
Did you know?
- In Paris, la rive droite is historically associated with commerce, finance and royalty, while la rive gauche is known as the intellectual and artistic center of the city.
- While droite means 'right', the term is also the root for the French word for 'law', le droit, implying a sense of correctness or straightness.
- Because the right bank is always determined by the current, a person walking upstream will find la rive droite on their own left side.
Examples in context
- Il faut traverser la Seine pour rejoindre la Rive DroiteOne must cross the Seine River to reach the Right Bank
- Le musée est situé sur la Rive Droite de la SeineThe museum is located on the Right Bank of the Seine
- J'habite sur la rive droite.I live on the right bank.
- Il y a un petit café sur la rive droite.There is a small cafe on the right bank.
- Nous marcherons sur la rive droite ce soir.We will walk on the right bank tonight.
- La rive droite est très animée en été.The right bank is very lively in summer.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are looking at a map of the city.
- HugoOù est l'hôtel, Manon ?Where is the hotel, Manon?
- ManonIl est sur la rive droite.It is on the right bank.
- HugoC'est loin d'ici ?Is it far from here?
- ManonNon, c'est juste après le pont.No, it is just after the bridge.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “right bank” translations and entries rive droite, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
