L'étang (en. The pond)

/le.tɑ̃/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

A small body of calm water, usually of natural origin.

We had a picnic by the pond.

Nous avons pique-niqué au bord de l'étang.

Clearing bordered by a pond.

The frogs sing in the forest pond.

Les grenouilles chantent dans l'étang de la forêt.

A stagnant body of water, often fish-filled.

Fishermen often go to this pond.

Les pêcheurs se rendent souvent à cet étang.

From Old French 'estang', derived from Latin 'stagnum' meaning 'expanse of water'.

to dive into the pond

to engage in a risky activity

plonger dans l'étang

to be in murky waters

to be in a complicated situation

être en eaux troubles

to make circles in the pond

to act without result or effect

faire des ronds dans l'étang

pool

A small body of water, typically shallow.

mare

basin

A depression in the ground that retains water.

bassin

river

A body of water larger than a pond.

rivière

To be bored to death

I was there, like a pond, doing nothing.

J'étais là, comme un étang, à ne rien faire.

To be overwhelmed with work

With all this work, I'm in the pond up to my neck.

Avec tout ce travail, je suis dans l'étang jusqu'au cou.