ville
/vil/feminine
In French, town is translated as ville. Wiktionary also lists commune and bourg.
Meaning: settlement (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ville | /vil/ /vɪl/ (Canada) |
feminine |
| commune | /kɔ.myn/ | feminine |
| bourg | /buʁ/ | masculine |
| villette | /vi.lɛt/ | feminine |
| villotte | feminine |
The term refers to a settlement.
Which one should you use?
While English distinguishes between a town and a city, the French word ville is used for both small towns and large cities. For a specific type of settlement, bourg is used for a small, often rural, market town. If you are referring to the administrative division or municipality rather than the physical settlement itself, use commune.
How do you pronounce it?
/vil/
Did you know?
- The French word for 'town', ville, actually derives from a word meaning a 'country house'.
- The term commune gained a powerful political connotation in the 19th century due to the Paris Commune. This event turned a boring administrative term into a symbol of revolutionary rebellion.
- In France the term commune describes the smallest administrative division of the country. Every single 'town' or 'village' in France is officially a commune regardless of its size.
Examples in context
- Je vis en ville.I live in town.This sentence is useful for saying you live in town using ville.Tatoeba #9726 by sacredceltic, translation #2377661 by CK
- Il ira en ville.He'll go to town.This sentence is useful for saying he will go to town using ville.Tatoeba #6798898 by Micsmithel, translation #3366448 by Jesse
- Je vais en ville.I'm going into town.This sentence is useful for saying you are going into town using ville.Tatoeba #140135 by sacredceltic, translation #2548254 by CK
- Je vais en ville pour faire quelques achats.I'm going to town to do some shopping.
- J'aimerais vivre dans un bourg tranquille près de la campagne.I would like to live in a peaceful small town near the countryside.
- 546 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are planning a weekend trip.
- HugoQuelle ville veux-tu visiter, Emma ?Which town do you want to visit, Emma?
- EmmaJe préfère une ville historique.I prefer a historic town.
- HugoD'accord, je vais chercher sur Internet.Okay, I will look it up on the internet.
- EmmaMerci, Hugo, c'est gentil.Thank you, Hugo, that is kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “town” translations and entries ville, commune, bourg, villette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bourg, commune, ville, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
