camping-car
In French, the English phrase RV is translated as camping-car.
The term camping-car refers to a large motorized vehicle equipped with living spaces like a bed and a kitchen, used for travel and camping. If you want to say you are traveling by means of an RV, use the prepositional phrase en camping-car.
Which one should you use?
While camping-car specifically refers to a motorized motorhome, the term caravane refers to a trailer that must be towed by another vehicle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun camping-car is masculine and is used with the indefinite article un (e.g., un camping-car).
Did you know?
- The phrase camping-car has traveled far beyond France, being adopted into Japanese as the Katakana word キャンピングカー to describe the exact same vehicle.
- The term camping-car is a 'pseudo-anglicism', meaning it was built to mimic English words but is a term that a native English speaker would actually find strange or incorrect.
- In France, the term camping-car is often associated with 'wild camping', which is strictly regulated and frequently banned in national parks and certain communes.
Examples in context
- La semaine prochaine, nous partirons en vacances en camping-car.Next week, we'll go on vacation in an RV.This sentence is useful for expressing plans to go on vacation using camping-car.Tatoeba #11642139 by Rovo, translation #11676549 by tieguy
- J'ai prévu de partir en camping-car ce week-endI'm planning to go RVing this weekend.
- Nous avons acheté une caravane pour nos vacances en familleWe bought a trailer for our family vacation.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are planning a road trip.
- NathanEst-ce que tu veux partir en camping-car ?Do you want to go in a camping-car?
- ChloéOui, ce serait une aventure géniale !Yes, it would be a great adventure!
- NathanJe vais chercher les modèles disponibles.I am going to look for available models.
- ChloéSuper, Nathan, j'ai hâte.Great, Nathan, I can't wait.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camping-car, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
