tunnel
/ty.nɛl/masculine
The English word "tunnel" is translated into French as tunnel.
The word tunnel refers to an underground or underwater passage.
Meaning: an underground or underwater passage (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine noun, tunnel is preceded by the masculine indefinite article un to say "a tunnel" (un tunnel).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ty.nɛl/.
Did you know?
- The French word tunnel is actually a re-borrowing from English. French originally had the word tonnelle, which English borrowed to create 'tunnel', and French later took the English version back.
- In historical French military contexts, a tunnel was often referred to as a sape when it was used for mining under enemy fortifications.
- In French, tunnel can be used in the expression effet de tunnel to describe a psychological phenomenon where a person focuses exclusively on one goal and ignores all other stimuli.
Examples in context
- Quand ont-ils creusé le tunnel ?When did they dig the tunnel?This sentence is useful for asking when the tunnel was dug.Tatoeba #9543536 by Julien_PDC, translation #13815665 by tieguy
- Cet endroit sera le point de départ du tunnel.This will be the starting point of the tunnel.This sentence is useful for identifying the starting point of the tunnel.Tatoeba #3872445 by Amastan, translation #3872386 by Amastan
- Yanni a senti comme s'il était dans un tunnel.Yanni felt like he was in a tunnel.This sentence is useful for describing the feeling of being inside a tunnel.Tatoeba #11756732 by Amastan, translation #9402107 by Amastan
- J'emprunte souvent le tunnel pour me rendre en ville.I often take the tunnel to go downtown.
- Prends le tunnel pour te rendre à l'autre bout de la ville, c'est plus rapide.Take the tunnel to get to the other side of the city, it's faster.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are driving through a mountain range.
- GabrielEst-ce que le tunnel est loin ?Is the tunnel far?
- ManonNon, nous allons bientôt l'atteindre.No, we will reach it soon.
- GabrielJe n'aime pas conduire dans un tunnel.I don't like driving in a tunnel.
- ManonNe t'inquiète pas, Gabriel, tout va bien.Don't worry, Gabriel, everything is fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tunnel” translations and entries tunnel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tunnel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
