Which one should you use?
In English, "suburbs" is typically used in the plural, but in French, banlieue is frequently used in the singular to refer to the suburban area as a whole. Additionally, while the English "suburbs" often connotes middle-class residential comfort, the French banlieue can imply a more complex social or political context regarding the city's outskirts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Parisian region, it is common to refer to the suburbs as la couronne parisienne.
How does it change in a sentence?
banlieue is a feminine noun and therefore takes the feminine article la. When you want to say "in the suburbs", the standard way to express this is by using the preposition en followed by banlieue without an article (en banlieue).
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /bɑ̃.ljø/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word banlieue originally referred to a boundary line or a zone of exclusion around a city where the law of the town ended.
- While English speakers imagine 'suburbs' as quiet gardens, a French speaker hearing la banlieue might first think of high-rise concrete housing projects known as HLM.
- In France, the word banlieue is frequently used as a metonym to refer specifically to the marginalized youth and social struggles of the urban periphery.
Examples in context
- Nous vivons en banlieue.We live in the suburbs.This example shows how to state that one lives in the suburbs using banlieue.Tatoeba #1342239 by sacredceltic, translation #263021 by CK
- Sa maison est en banlieue.Her home is in the suburbs.This sentence uses banlieue to describe the location of a house.Tatoeba #133742 by Micsmithel, translation #309101 by CK
- C'est tranquille dans la banlieue…It's quiet in the suburbs…This sentence uses banlieue to describe the quietness of the suburban area.Tatoeba #416941 by qdii, translation #416939 by FeuDRenais
- On se retrouve à la périphérie de la ville ?Shall we meet in the suburbs?
- J'ai grandi dans la couronne parisienne.I grew up in the Parisian suburbs.
- Je me suis installé dans les faubourgs de Marseille.I settled in the suburbs of Marseille.
- Mon ami vit dans la banlieue de Bordeaux.My friend lives in the suburbs of Bordeaux.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are discussing where to live.
- NathanTu veux habiter en banlieue ?Do you want to live in the suburbs?
- ManonNon, je préfère le centre-ville.No, I prefer the city center.
- NathanMais la banlieue est plus calme.But the suburbs are quieter.
- ManonC'est vrai, mais c'est loin de tout.That's true, but it's far from everything.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry banlieue, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banlieue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
