naufrage
/no.fʁaʒ/masculine
The English word 'sinking' can be translated into French as naufrage.
In a maritime context, naufrage refers to the sinking of a ship or a maritime disaster. It is also used figuratively to describe a total failure, ruin or the disastrous collapse of an institution or a project.
Meaning: process by which something sinks, or is sunk (noun)
Which one should you use?
While the English word 'sinking' can refer to any object descending into water, the French naufrage is specific to the sinking of a ship or a maritime disaster.
How does it change in a sentence?
naufrage is a masculine noun and is typically preceded by the definite article le when referring to a specific event.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /no.fʁaʒ/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The French word naufrage comes from the Latin naufragium, which combines the words for 'ship' and 'breaking'.
- The term is often used in French literature to describe a 'naufrage de l'âme', or the sinking of the soul, to denote a profound moral or spiritual ruin.
- In a maritime context, the French distinguish between le naufrage as the event and l'épave as the physical wreck left behind.
Examples in context
- Ils ont fui la compagnie vouée à la ruine comme des rats désertant un navire en naufrage.They fled the doomed company like rats deserting a sinking ship.This sentence uses naufrage to illustrate a metaphorical comparison involving a sinking ship.Tatoeba #8552941 by Aiji, translation #2479112 by AlanF_US
- Le navire a coulé au large des côtes.The ship sank off the coast.
- Face à ses échecs, il a sombré dans la tristesse.In the face of his failures, he sank into sadness.
- Il a plongé dans ses pensées profondes.He sank into deep thoughts.
- La voiture s'est enlisée dans le marais.The car sank in the swamp.
- Le naufrage de ce bateau a surpris tout le monde.The sinking of this boat surprised everyone.
- Elle a étudié les causes de ce naufrage historique.She studied the causes of this historical sinking.
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are watching a documentary about shipwrecks.
- ManonC'est terrible, ce naufrage a fait beaucoup de victimes.It's terrible, this sinking caused many victims.
- GabrielOui, le bateau a coulé très vite.Yes, the boat sank very quickly.
- ManonEst-ce que Gabriel pense que c'était un accident ?Do you think it was an accident, Gabriel?
- GabrielJe pense que c'était à cause de la tempête.I think it was because of the storm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sinking” translations and entries naufrage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries naufrage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
