cour
/kuʁ/feminine
The French word for yard is cour.
cour is a feminine noun used to refer to the land around a house. While cour typically describes an enclosed or semi-enclosed space, you can use the expression espace extérieur to refer to a yard as a generic outdoor space. For an outdoor space or patio attached to a house, the word terrasse may also be used. In a school setting, the specific term for a schoolyard is cour de récréation.
Meaning: land around a house (noun)
Which one should you use?
While cour refers to a yard or courtyard, the word jardin is used specifically for a garden that contains plants and flowers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cour is cours.
How do you pronounce it?
/kuʁ/
Did you know?
- The word cour shares its origins with the English word 'cohort', as both stem from the Latin 'cohors', meaning an enclosure or a group of people.
- The word cour also describes a 'royal court', linking the physical enclosure of a house to the social circle surrounding a monarch.
- In French, the word cour is a homophone of cours, which can mean a 'class' or a 'river course' despite having different meanings and spellings in the singular.
Examples in context
- J’ai balayé la cour.I swept the yard.This sentence shows how to use cour with the verb to sweep.Tatoeba #2231112 by Amastan, translation #3126159 by Theocracy
- Tom joue dans la cour.Tom is playing in the yard.This sentence shows someone playing in the cour.Tatoeba #11695260 by Aiji, translation #5623857 by CK
- C'était à peine une cour.It wasn't much of a yard.This sentence is used to remark on the size or quality of a cour.Tatoeba #1099903 by sacredceltic, translation #1096402 by CK
- Ma maison a un beau jardin.My house has a beautiful yard.
- Les enfants jouent dans la cour.The children play in the yard.
- Viens jouer dans mon jardin !Come play in my yard!
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are looking at their new house.
- EmmaRegarde la belle cour, Lucas !Look at the beautiful yard, Lucas!
- LucasOui, elle est vraiment spacieuse.Yes, it is really spacious.
- EmmaOn peut y installer un barbecue.We can set up a barbecue there.
- LucasC'est une excellente idée, Emma.That's an excellent idea, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yard” translations and entries cour, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cour, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
