Coffee Break French Around the word: a tour of 'tour' | A Coffee Break with Max
Sep 15, 2025
Join Max as he unpacks the diverse meanings of the French word 'tour'. Discover how the context determines its grammatical gender, making it either masculine or feminine. Learn through engaging examples like 'La Tour Eiffel' and its nuance in chess. Dive into its applications in travel and sports, while picking up set phrases to sound like a native. By the end, you'll master this tricky word and enhance your conversational skills!
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Gender Changes With 'Tower' Meaning
- The French word "tour" can be feminine when it means a physical tower.
- Examples like La Tour Eiffel show that tour = tower is la tour, not le tour.
Famous Towers And Chess Rooks
- Max gives examples of feminine tour with famous towers like the Tower of Pisa.
- He also notes that in chess the rook pieces are called "les tours" in French.
Other Meanings Are Masculine
- All other meanings of tour (besides tower) are masculine in French.
- For example, le Tour de France uses masculine tour to mean a journey around a place.