terrain
/tɛ.ʁɛ̃/masculine
The English phrase 'terrain' is translated into French as terrain.
terrain is the most straightforward translation for the English word 'terrain'. It refers to an area of land. In a sports context, it is often used to refer to a playing field or pitch, such as in the phrase terrain de sport. Another common expression is terrain vague, which describes an empty, uncultivated or abandoned plot of land.
Meaning: area (noun)
Which one should you use?
While terrain refers to the physical nature or surface of the ground (rugged, flat, etc.), terre is the more general word for soil or the planet Earth.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɛ.ʁɛ̃/
Did you know?
- The word terrain shares a common ancestor with the English word 'terrace', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root *ters-, meaning 'to dry'.
- French speakers use the term terrain d'entente to describe a 'common ground' reached during a negotiation, moving the word from a physical meaning to an abstract one.
- In a professional or scientific context, sur le terrain describes working 'in the field', meaning the actual location of an event rather than in an office or lab.
Examples in context
- Un terrain inconnu peut être difficile à traverser.Unfamiliar terrain can be difficult to traverse.This sentence shows how an unfamiliar terrain might be difficult to cross using terrain.Tatoeba #12696343 by lbdx, translation #4232506 by janms
- Le terrain accidenté a rendu l'avancée des troupes difficile.The rugged terrain made the troops' advance difficult.This sentence describes how rugged terrain can affect the movement of troops using terrain.Tatoeba #10765470 by lbdx, translation #10540362 by sundown
- Nous avons dû conduire sur des routes étroites à travers un terrain accidenté.We had to drive on narrow roads through hilly terrain.This sentence illustrates driving through hilly terrain using terrain.Tatoeba #4062450 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #4062074 by Lepotdeterre
- Le terrain est accidenté, mais idéal pour les randonnées.The terrain is rugged but ideal for hiking.
- La société a acheté un terrain pour construire une nouvelle usine.The company bought land to build a new factory.
- Ce terrain a un relief plat et est parfait pour la construction d'une piste cyclable.This terrain has a flat relief and is perfect for building a bike path.
- On a trouvé un bel endroit pour pique-niquer près du terrain de jeu.We found a nice spot to have a picnic near the playground.
- L'endroit où ils ont construit leur maison offre une belle vue sur le terrain agricole.The place where they built their house offers a beautiful view of the farmland.
- Tu n'as qu'à garer ta voiture dans la zone prévue, près du terrain de football.You can park your car in the designated area near the soccer field.
- Ma famille possède une parcelle de terrain dans la campagne normande.My family owns a plot of land in the Normandy countryside.
- Les agriculteurs locaux cultivent des légumes sur de petites parcelles de terrain.Local farmers grow vegetables on small plots of land.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a map for a hiking trip.
- ChloéEst-ce que ce terrain est plat ?Is this area flat?
- LucasNon, le terrain est très rocheux ici.No, the terrain is very rocky here.
- ChloéLucas, il faudra faire attention.Lucas, we will have to be careful.
- LucasOui, c'est un terrain difficile.Yes, it is a difficult area.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “terrain” translations and entries terrain, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries terrain, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
