raide
/ʁɛd/
The English word "steep" can be translated into French as raide, escarpé or abrupt depending on the context.
Meaning: near-vertical (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| raide | /ʁɛd/ |
| escarpé | /ɛs.kaʁ.pe/ |
| abrupt | /a.bʁypt/ |
All three terms describe something that is near-vertical, typically referring to inclines, slopes or terrain.
Which one should you use?
While raide is the common word for steep, escarpé is used for more rugged, precipitous or craggy terrain. abrupt is used to describe a sudden, sharp change in elevation or a landscape that drops off suddenly.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective raide is invariable in gender, meaning the feminine form is also raide.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁɛd/
Did you know?
- In French, the phrase être raide can be used as a slang way to say that someone is completely broke and has no money left.
- When describing a price as 'steep', French speakers do not use raide or escarpé but instead use the word élevé or the slang term salé, meaning 'salted'.
- In French slang, if someone is described as raide, it can mean they are 'stiff' or even 'dead', much like the English expression 'stiff as a board'.
Examples in context
- Il fixa la pente raide.He stared at the steep slope.This sentence shows how to use raide to describe a slope.Tatoeba #131987 by Micsmithel, translation #296041 by CM
- C'est une pente très raide.It's a very steep slope.This sentence demonstrates using raide with an intensifier to say a slope is very steep.Tatoeba #8418516 by Aiji, translation #7779724 by AlanF_US
- Nous grimpâmes une pente raide.We climbed the steep slope.This sentence shows the use of raide in the context of climbing a slope.Tatoeba #7982 by sysko, translation #248630 by CK
- La montagne est escarpéeThe mountain is steep
- La descente est raideThe descent is steep
- Le chemin est fortement inclinéThe path is steeply inclined
- Attention, la descente est cassanteWatch out, the descent is steep
- Le sentier est escarpé, faites attention.The trail is steep, be careful.
- Cette pente est super pentue, fais gaffe !This slope is really steep, watch out!
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are hiking in the mountains.
- LucasCette route est très raide.This road is very steep.
- LéaOui, je suis épuisée.Yes, I am exhausted.
- LucasOn devrait faire une pause.We should take a break.
- LéaBonne idée, Lucas.Good idea, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “steep” translations and entries raide, escarpé, abrupt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
