Saint-Denis
In French, Saint Denis is written Saint-Denis, with a hyphen.
Saint-Denis is a city in the northern suburbs of Paris. The same name belongs to the capital of Réunion, the French island in the Indian Ocean.
How does it change in a sentence?
French place names that begin with Saint join the two parts with a hyphen, so the city is always written Saint-Denis.
When do people say it?
The city is home to the national stadium of France and to a basilica where most French kings were buried.
Did you know?
- The city of Saint-Denis is named after a martyr who is traditionally depicted carrying his own severed head, a detail reflected in the art throughout the town.
- The name Denis comes from the Greek word Dionysios, meaning 'follower of Dionysus', the god of wine and festivity.
- In French history, the name Saint-Denis is often used as a shorthand for the basilica itself, meaning a person might say they are going to Saint-Denis without meaning the city.
Examples in context
- J'habite à Saint-Denis.I live in Saint-Denis.
- Le stade est à Saint-Denis.The stadium is in Saint-Denis.
- Il y a beaucoup de magasins à Saint-Denis.There are many shops in Saint-Denis.
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are discussing where to meet for dinner.
- ChloéTu veux dîner à Saint-Denis ce soir ?Do you want to have dinner in Saint-Denis tonight?
- GabrielOui, c'est une bonne idée, Gabriel.Yes, that's a good idea, Gabriel.
- ChloéJe connais un super restaurant là-bas.I know a great restaurant there.
- GabrielParfait, on se voit à Saint-Denis alors.Perfect, we'll see each other in Saint-Denis then.
