la
/baʁ/
Translation
bar, rod; helm; stroke (of a pen)
Word origin
From Late Latin barra ('bar, barrier'), a word of uncertain origin that spread through the Romance languages and into English as 'bar' and 'barrier'.
- Origin
- Late Latin
- Root
- barra
- English cognates
- bar, barrier, barricade
Other proposed origins
- Many dictionaries trace barra to a Gaulish or wider Celtic root meaning a bushy top or branch. (Gaulish barros)
- Others treat barra simply as a pre-Latin word of unknown origin and decline to name a source language. (barra)
Grammar
Examples
.
An iron bar was blocking the door.
.
The captain held the helm all night.
.
Draw a line under the total.
céréales .
She eats a cereal bar before running.
euros.
Sales have passed the thousand euro mark.
Where this fits
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueFrench · Free printables
barre: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "barre" (bar, rod; helm; stroke (of a pen)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 33.