Sion
/sjɔ̃/feminine
The English word "Zion" is translated into French as Sion.
Sion refers to the hill or mount in Israel.
Meaning: hill ("mount") in Israel (name)
How does it change in a sentence?
Sion is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/sjɔ̃/
Did you know?
- While Sion refers to the biblical hill in Israel, it is also the name of a city in the Swiss canton of Valais.
- The spelling of Sion lacks the 'z' found in the English 'Zion', reflecting its direct descent from the Greek Σῑών via Latin rather than the Hebrew root in English way.
- In French, the word Sion is often used in poetry and hymns to represent a spiritual paradise rather than just a physical location in Jerusalem.
Examples in context
- La ville de Jérusalem est située sur la colline de Sion.The city of Jerusalem is located on the hill of Zion.
- Sion est un lieu sacré.Zion is a sacred place.
- Ils parlent de la montagne de Sion.They are talking about Mount Zion.
- La citadelle de Sion est ancienne.The citadel of Zion is ancient.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a history book in a library.
- ManonAs-tu lu le chapitre sur Sion ?Have you read the chapter on Zion?
- HugoNon, je ne connais pas bien Sion.No, I don't know Zion very well.
- ManonC'est une partie très importante du livre.It is a very important part of the book.
- HugoJe vais le lire dès demain.I will read it starting tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zion” translations and entries Sion, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Sion, CC BY-SA 4.0.
