voyage
/vwa.jaʒ/masculine
The French word for tour (in the sense of a journey) can be expressed as voyage or tournée.
Meaning: journey (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| voyage | /vwa.jaʒ/ | masculine |
| tournée | /tuʁ.ne/ | feminine |
Use voyage for a general journey or trip, often implying a significant distance or a vacation. Use tournée specifically for a series of stops, such as a concert tour, a speaking tour or a professional circuit.
Which one should you use?
voyage is the standard term for a general journey or trip. In contrast, tournée is used specifically for a sequence of locations visited as part of a professional activity, like a musical or promotional tour.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
voyage is a masculine noun, while tournée is a feminine noun. The related verb tourner means to make a journey.
How do you pronounce it?
/vwa.jaʒ/ (two syllables)
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the French word tour to mean a journey. In French, un tour usually refers to a turn, a circuit or a completed lap.
Did you know?
- In a French cafe or bar, a tournée refers to a round of drinks bought for everyone in the group.
- The word voyage comes from the Latin viāticum, which originally referred to the money or provisions given to a traveler for a journey.
- In French, 'un tour' can also mean a trick or a feat, so 'faire un tour' might mean performing a magic trick rather than embarking on a journey.
Examples in context
- Il est plus intéressant de voyager seul qu'en groupe.It's more interesting to travel alone than to go on a group tour.This sentence uses the verb form of voyage to discuss the interest of traveling alone.Tatoeba #129274 by Aiji, translation #276756 by CK
- Après un peu de congés, je prévois de partir pour une nouvelle tournée de concerts.After a little time off, I plan to go on another concert tour.This sentence uses tournée to describe a plan for a concert tour.Tatoeba #1140216 by sacredceltic, translation #1140201 by CK
- La ministre des finances française Christine Lagarde a pris la direction du Brésil, dans le cadre d'une tournée, destinée à réunir des soutiens en faveur de sa candidature.French finance minister Christine Lagarde headed to Brazil as part of a tour to garner support for her candidacy.This sentence uses tournée to describe a professional trip made to gather support.Tatoeba #947047 by sacredceltic, translation #946805 by U2FS
- Je suis intéressé par une visite guidée du musée.I am interested in a guided tour of the museum.
- Nous avons apprécié la promenade à travers le vieux quartier de la ville.We enjoyed the tour through the old quarter of the city.
- On pourrait faire une petite balade en vélo dans la campagne.We could go on a little tour in the countryside by bike.
- On s'est fait une petite virée dans les quartiers animés de Paris.We went on a little tour of the lively neighborhoods in Paris.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are talking about their summer plans.
- HugoTu pars bientôt pour ton voyage ?Are you leaving for your trip soon?
- ChloéOui, je pars demain pour le Japon.Yes, I'm leaving for Japan tomorrow.
- HugoC'est un voyage magnifique !That is a magnificent journey!
- ChloéMerci, Hugo, j'ai hâte d'y être.Thank you, Hugo, I can't wait to be there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tour” translations and entries voyage, tournée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries voyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
