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A2 noun #5,000 am häufigsten 11 Min. Lesezeit

le barrage

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At the A1 level, you should recognize 'le barrage' as a simple noun meaning 'dam'. You might see it in pictures of landscapes or in basic geography lessons. Think of it as a big wall in a river. You should focus on its gender (masculine: *un* barrage) and its basic plural form (*des* barrages). At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex political metaphors. Just remember that it's a place where water is held back. You might learn it alongside other nature words like 'la rivière' (river), 'la montagne' (mountain), and 'le lac' (lake). In simple sentences, it acts as a location or a subject: 'Le barrage est grand' (The dam is big). You might also encounter it in very basic traffic contexts if a road is closed, where a teacher might say 'La route est fermée, il y a un barrage' (The road is closed, there is a roadblock). Focus on the pronunciation, especially the soft 'j' sound at the end, which is typical of French words ending in '-age'.

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At the A2 level, you are expected to use 'le barrage' in more descriptive contexts. You should be able to talk about what a dam does, such as 'Le barrage produit de l'électricité' (The dam produces electricity) or 'Le barrage retient l'eau' (The dam holds back water). You will also begin to see the word in news snippets about travel or social issues, specifically 'un barrage routier' (a roadblock). You should understand that this is something the police or protesters do to stop cars. This level also introduces the idea of 'faire barrage', which you might see in simplified news articles about elections. You should understand that it means 'to block' or 'to stand against' something. You can practice using it with adjectives like 'hydroélectrique' or 'impressionnant'. It's important to distinguish 'le barrage' from 'le pont' (the bridge); a bridge lets you cross water, while a dam stops the water. You should also be able to ask simple questions: 'Où est le barrage ?' (Where is the dam?) or 'Pourquoi y a-t-il un barrage sur la route ?' (Why is there a roadblock on the road?).

At the B1 level, your understanding of 'le barrage' should expand to include its environmental and social implications. You should be able to participate in a discussion about the pros and cons of dams, using terms like 'l'environnement' (the environment), 'l'énergie renouvelable' (renewable energy), and 'l'impact' (the impact). You will encounter the word in more complex texts, perhaps about history or engineering. You should be comfortable with the idiom 'faire barrage à' and be able to use it in a sentence about social or personal obstacles: 'Il faut faire barrage à la discrimination' (We must block/stand against discrimination). You should also recognize the word in a sports context, specifically 'les matchs de barrage' (playoff matches), and understand that these are crucial games for qualification. Your grammar should be precise enough to handle relative clauses: 'Le barrage que nous avons visité était immense' (The dam that we visited was immense). You should also start noticing the difference between a 'barrage' and a 'digue' (dike), understanding that they serve different hydraulic purposes.

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At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'le barrage' with nuance in both formal and informal registers. You will likely encounter it in political commentary regarding the 'barrage républicain', a term essential for understanding French elections. You should be able to explain this concept in French, discussing the coalition of diverse parties against a common extremist threat. In technical or professional contexts, you might use the word when discussing infrastructure projects or logistical challenges. You should be familiar with related verbs like 'céder' (to break/give way) or 'sauter' (to blow up/be removed) in the context of a barrier. For instance, 'Le barrage a sauté' could mean a physical dam was destroyed or a metaphorical obstacle was finally overcome. You should be able to write an essay or give a presentation on water management or renewable energy, using 'le barrage' as a key term. You should also understand its use in military history, such as 'un tir de barrage' (a barrage of fire), and how this metaphor translates into modern language to describe a sudden, overwhelming influx of something (like questions or criticism).

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At the C1 level, your mastery of 'le barrage' includes its most subtle and literary applications. You should be able to analyze how the word is used in French literature or high-level journalism to create metaphors of resistance, containment, or emotional suppression. You might encounter 'barrage' in psychological texts describing 'un barrage psychologique' or 'un barrage de la pensée' (a thought block). You should be able to discuss the complex engineering aspects of different types of dams (*barrage-poids*, *barrage-voûte*) if the context requires it. In political science discussions, you can critique the effectiveness of a 'barrage' strategy in modern democracy. Your vocabulary should be rich enough to use synonyms like 'entrave', 'obturateur', or 'digue' with perfect precision. You should also be aware of the historical context of famous dams in the Francophone world, such as those in Quebec or Switzerland, and how they have shaped national identity and economy. You can use the word in complex sentence structures: 'Nonobstant l'utilité économique du barrage, les conséquences écologiques demeurent préoccupantes' (Notwithstanding the economic utility of the dam, the ecological consequences remain worrying).

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At the C2 level, 'le barrage' is a word you can manipulate with total native-like fluency, including its use in puns, complex metaphors, and specialized jargon. You understand the historical evolution of the word from its roots in the verb 'barrer' to its current multi-faceted status. You can engage in high-level debates about hydraulic engineering, international water rights (where dams on shared rivers cause conflict), and the socio-political dynamics of 'barrage' voting systems. You can recognize and use the word in obscure idioms or technical fields like fluid mechanics or telecommunications (where 'barrage' might refer to signal jamming). Your use of the word is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker, whether you are writing a technical report, a political manifesto, or a piece of creative fiction. You can explore the philosophical implications of 'le barrage' as a symbol of human attempt to control nature, and the inevitable failure or success of such endeavors. You are also sensitive to the regional variations in how the word might be applied across the Francophonie, from the massive 'barrages' of the Saint-Laurent to the smaller alpine structures in Europe.

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Le barrage is a masculine noun meaning 'dam' or 'roadblock'.
It is used for hydroelectricity, traffic control, and political resistance.
The common idiom 'faire barrage à' means to block or oppose something.
Do not confuse it with 'la barrière', which is a smaller fence or gate.

The French word le barrage is a versatile masculine noun that primarily refers to a physical barrier constructed to obstruct or control the flow of something, most commonly water. In a literal sense, it is the standard term for a dam, whether it is a massive hydroelectric structure like the Barrage d'Assouan or a small beaver dam in a creek. However, its utility in the French language extends far beyond hydraulic engineering. It encapsulates the concept of an intentional blockage, appearing frequently in contexts ranging from traffic control to political strategy and sports defense.

The Civil Engineering Context: In its most concrete form, a barrage is a structure built across a river. French speakers use this term to discuss renewable energy (l'énergie hydroélectrique) and water management. For example, when discussing climate change or infrastructure, you will hear about the height, capacity, and safety of these structures. It is a word of national importance in France, given the country's reliance on nuclear and hydraulic power.
The Law Enforcement Context: When the police or gendarmerie close off a road to inspect vehicles or prevent passage during a protest, they establish a barrage routier (roadblock). This is a common sight during major national events or security alerts. In this context, the word implies a temporary, enforced stop rather than a permanent architectural fixture.
The Political and Social Context: Perhaps most uniquely in French culture, faire barrage is a powerful political idiom. It refers to the collective effort of voters or parties to block a specific candidate (often from the far right) from gaining power. This 'republican front' is described as a human dam against a perceived threat to democratic values.

Les ingénieurs ont inspecté le barrage après la tempête pour vérifier s'il y avait des fissures.

Translation: The engineers inspected the dam after the storm to check if there were any cracks.

Understanding le barrage requires recognizing that it is not just an object but an action turned into a noun. It comes from the verb barrer, meaning 'to bar' or 'to block'. When you use this word, you are emphasizing the cessation of movement. Whether it is a physical wall of concrete or a psychological wall of silence, the essence remains the same: something that was flowing has been stopped.

La police a installé un barrage filtrant pour contrôler les manifestants sans bloquer totalement la circulation.

Translation: The police set up a filtering roadblock to monitor protesters without completely blocking traffic.

In sports, specifically in rugby or football (soccer), un match de barrage refers to a playoff or a tie-breaker match. It is the final 'barrier' a team must cross to qualify for a higher league or a tournament. This usage highlights the 'gatekeeper' aspect of the word. It isn't just a wall; it's a test of strength or validity.

Pour accéder à la finale, notre équipe doit gagner ce barrage décisif contre Lyon.

Translation: To reach the final, our team must win this decisive playoff against Lyon.

Using le barrage correctly involves understanding its grammatical gender (masculine) and the specific verbs that typically accompany it. Because it is a noun denoting a physical object or a state of obstruction, it often functions as the direct object of verbs related to construction, destruction, or navigation.

Common Verb Pairings: You will frequently see construire (to build), ériger (to erect), céder (to give way/break), and franchir (to cross/overcome) used with barrage. For example, 'Le barrage a cédé sous la pression de l'eau' (The dam broke under the water pressure).
Adjective Agreement: Since it is masculine, adjectives must agree: un barrage impressionnant (an impressive dam), des barrages hydroélectriques (hydroelectric dams). Note that even when the word is used metaphorically, the gender remains masculine.

L'État a décidé de construire un nouveau barrage pour sécuriser l'approvisionnement en eau de la région.

Translation: The state decided to build a new dam to secure the region's water supply.

When discussing the act of blocking, the expression faire barrage à is essential. It requires the preposition à. It can be followed by a person, an organization, or an abstract concept like 'progress' or 'hate'.

Les citoyens se sont mobilisés pour faire barrage au projet de loi controversé.

Translation: Citizens mobilized to block the controversial bill.

In technical descriptions, le barrage is often followed by a specifying noun phrase, such as barrage de retenue (storage dam) or barrage de poids (gravity dam). These terms are vital for engineering or environmental discussions.

Le barrage de la Rance utilise la force des marées pour produire de l'électricité propre.

Translation: The Rance tidal power station uses tidal force to produce clean electricity.

Finally, in everyday conversation, if someone is preventing you from passing in a hallway or a street, you might jokingly say, 'Tu fais barrage !' (You're blocking the way!). This demonstrates the word's flexibility from high-level engineering to mundane human interaction.

The word barrage is deeply embedded in the daily life and media landscape of Francophone countries. If you turn on the French news channel BFMTV or read Le Monde, you will encounter this word in several specific scenarios. Its frequency is particularly high in France due to the nation's geography and political structure.

On the Evening News (Le Journal): During the summer, you might hear about le niveau des barrages (dam levels) in relation to droughts. Conversely, during heavy rains, reporters will discuss the risk of débordement d'un barrage (a dam overflowing). It is a staple of environmental and meteorological reporting.
During Social Movements (Les Grèves): France is known for its strikes and protests. Farmers often set up barrages routiers with their tractors to block highways. In these reports, you will hear phrases like 'les manifestants ont levé le barrage' (the protesters lifted the roadblock) once negotiations conclude.
In Political Debates: During election cycles, particularly between the first and second rounds, politicians will call for a barrage républicain. This is a plea for voters of all stripes to unite against a common political enemy. It is a defining term of modern French political science.

À cause de la grève des routiers, il y a un barrage sur l'autoroute A1 depuis ce matin.

Translation: Because of the truck drivers' strike, there has been a roadblock on the A1 motorway since this morning.

In rural areas, particularly in the Alps, the Pyrenees, or the Massif Central, le barrage is a landmark. Locals might give directions based on it: 'Tournez à gauche après le barrage' (Turn left after the dam). These structures are often tourist sites with hiking trails and viewpoints, making the word common in travel guides and local signage.

Le candidat a appelé ses partisans à faire barrage à l'extrémisme lors du second tour.

Translation: The candidate called on his supporters to block extremism during the second round.

In a more figurative, emotional sense, you might hear a doctor or psychologist talk about a barrage émotionnel—a defense mechanism where a person blocks their feelings. While less common than the physical or political meanings, it shows the word's depth in describing human behavior.

For English speakers, le barrage is a 'partial cognate'. While the word 'barrage' exists in English, its usage is much narrower, often limited to a 'barrage of questions' or 'artillery barrage'. This can lead to several common errors when translating thoughts from English to French or vice versa.

The Gender Trap: Many learners assume that because barrage ends in '-age', it might be feminine (perhaps confusing it with words like page or image). However, the vast majority of French nouns ending in '-age' are masculine. Saying 'la barrage' is a frequent mistake that immediately marks one as a non-native speaker.
Confusion with 'Barrière': English speakers often use 'barrier' for everything. In French, une barrière is usually a fence, a gate, or a figurative hurdle. If you are talking about a massive structure holding back water, 'barrière' is incorrect; you must use barrage.
Mistranslating 'Dam': Some learners try to look for a word that sounds like 'dam'. There isn't one. Le barrage is the only word for this concept. Don't try to use 'digue' (dike/levee) interchangeably with 'barrage'; a 'digue' runs parallel to the water to prevent flooding, while a 'barrage' runs across it to create a reservoir.

Incorrect: Elle a mis une barrage sur la route.
Correct: Elle a mis un barrage sur la route.

Explanation: Barrage is masculine, so it requires 'un', not 'une'.

Another mistake involves the idiom faire barrage. Beginners often try to translate 'to block' literally as 'bloquer' in every situation. While 'bloquer le passage' is correct, 'faire barrage' is much more idiomatic when referring to a concerted effort or a physical roadblock. Using 'bloquer' for a political movement sounds flat compared to the evocative 'faire barrage'.

Incorrect: Le barrage de questions était trop.
Correct: Une avalanche de questions ou un feu roulant de questions.

Explanation: While English uses 'barrage of questions', French prefers other metaphors for rapid-fire speech, though 'barrage' is sometimes used in very formal/literary contexts.

Finally, watch out for the plural. Des barrages is the plural form. Do not add an 'x' just because it's a longer word; the standard 's' suffices. Also, ensure that the preceding article matches: les barrages.

While le barrage is the most common word for a dam or a roadblock, French offers several synonyms and related terms that provide more precision depending on the context. Understanding these nuances will elevate your vocabulary from A2 to B1 and beyond.

Une Digue vs. Un Barrage: A digue (dike or levee) is built to prevent the sea or a river from flooding a specific area of land. It runs parallel to the shore. A barrage is built across a river to stop or regulate its flow. If you are talking about the Netherlands, you use digue. If you are talking about the Hoover Dam, you use barrage.
Un Obstacle: This is a broader term for anything that stands in the way. While a barrage is a specific type of obstacle (usually intentional and large), an obstacle can be accidental, such as a fallen tree in the road.
Une Écluse: An écluse is a lock (on a canal). While it is a structure that manages water levels, its purpose is to allow boats to move between different elevations, whereas a barrage primarily stores water or generates power.

Contrairement à une simple digue, le barrage permet de créer un lac artificiel pour les loisirs.

Translation: Unlike a simple dike, the dam allows for the creation of an artificial lake for recreation.

In a figurative sense, you might use frein (brake) or entrave (shackle/hindrance). If you want to say that something is slowing down progress, 'C'est un frein au développement' is often better than 'C'est un barrage', unless the stoppage is absolute and intentional.

La bureaucratie est souvent vue comme un obstacle majeur, mais pas forcément comme un barrage infranchissable.

Translation: Bureaucracy is often seen as a major obstacle, but not necessarily as an impassable barrier.

For technical writing, retenue d'eau (water reservoir/retention) is often used to describe the result of a barrage. While the barrage is the wall, the retenue is the body of water behind it. Using these terms correctly shows a high level of linguistic sophistication.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word originally referred to simple wooden bars across a door before it was applied to massive concrete dams in the 19th century.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ba.ʁaʒ/

US /bə.ˈrɑːʒ/

The stress is equal on both syllables, but slightly more on the final 'age' in natural speech.

Reimt sich auf

nuage voyage plage garage massage visage partage sauvage

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it is silent).
Using an English 'r' instead of the French 'r'.
Making the 'g' sound like 'g' in 'go' instead of 'j' in 'je'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize due to the English cognate, but requires context.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires remembering the masculine gender and the '-age' suffix.

Sprechen 3/5

The French 'r' and the 'j' sound at the end can be tricky for beginners.

Hören 2/5

Clear pronunciation, but can be confused with 'barrière' in fast speech.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

eau rivière route police bloquer

Als Nächstes lernen

hydroélectrique infrastructure manifestation scrutin écluse

Fortgeschritten

envasement débit vannes prouesse conjoncture

Wichtige Grammatik

Masculine nouns in -age

Le barrage, le garage, le voyage (but: la cage, la page).

Preposition 'à' with 'faire barrage'

Faire barrage **à** la haine.

Adjective agreement with masculine nouns

Un barrage **ancien**.

Compound nouns with hyphens

Un barrage-voûte.

Passive voice with 'par'

Le barrage est géré **par** l'État.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Le barrage est très grand.

The dam is very big.

Focus on the subject-verb-adjective structure.

Regarde le barrage !

Look at the dam!

Imperative form of 'regarder'.

Il y a de l'eau derrière le barrage.

There is water behind the dam.

Use of 'il y a' for existence.

Le barrage est en béton.

The dam is made of concrete.

Preposition 'en' for materials.

C'est un barrage bleu.

It's a blue dam.

Adjective agreement (masculine).

Le petit barrage est joli.

The small dam is pretty.

Adjective placement before and after the noun.

Où est le barrage ?

Where is the dam?

Simple question formation with 'où'.

Le barrage est fermé.

The dam (roadblock) is closed.

Past participle used as an adjective.

Le barrage produit de l'électricité pour la ville.

The dam produces electricity for the city.

Present tense of 'produire'.

La police a mis un barrage sur la route.

The police set up a roadblock on the road.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Nous marchons sur le barrage.

We are walking on the dam.

Preposition 'sur' for location.

Le barrage retient beaucoup d'eau.

The dam holds back a lot of water.

Verb 'retenir' (to hold back).

Il faut faire barrage à ce projet.

We must block this project.

Idiom 'faire barrage à'.

Le barrage est situé dans les montagnes.

The dam is located in the mountains.

Passive construction 'est situé'.

Les castors construisent un petit barrage.

Beavers are building a small dam.

Plural subject and verb agreement.

Le lac du barrage est parfait pour nager.

The dam's lake is perfect for swimming.

Possessive 'du' (de + le).

La construction du barrage a duré dix ans.

The construction of the dam lasted ten years.

Passé composé of 'durer'.

Ce barrage est essentiel pour l'irrigation des fermes.

This dam is essential for the irrigation of the farms.

Adjective 'essentiel' and 'pour'.

Ils ont gagné le match de barrage hier soir.

They won the playoff match last night.

Contextual meaning: sports playoff.

Le barrage a été inspecté par des experts.

The dam was inspected by experts.

Passive voice with 'par'.

Si le barrage cède, le village sera inondé.

If the dam breaks, the village will be flooded.

First conditional (si + present, future).

L'impact écologique du barrage est souvent discuté.

The ecological impact of the dam is often discussed.

Noun-adjective phrase 'impact écologique'.

Il y avait un barrage filtrant à l'entrée du festival.

There was a filtering roadblock at the festival entrance.

Compound noun 'barrage filtrant'.

Le niveau d'eau du barrage baisse en été.

The dam's water level drops in summer.

Verb 'baisser' (to lower/drop).

Le barrage républicain a fonctionné lors des dernières élections.

The republican front worked during the last elections.

Metaphorical political usage.

Les ingénieurs doivent renforcer la structure du barrage.

The engineers must reinforce the dam's structure.

Modal verb 'devoir' + infinitive.

Malgré les critiques, le gouvernement maintient le barrage.

Despite the criticism, the government is keeping the dam.

Conjunction 'malgré' (despite).

Le tir de barrage a empêché l'ennemi d'avancer.

The barrage of fire prevented the enemy from advancing.

Military technical term.

Ce barrage constitue une barrière infranchissable pour les poissons.

This dam constitutes an impassable barrier for fish.

Verb 'constituer' (to constitute).

On a installé un barrage de police pour arrêter le suspect.

A police roadblock was set up to stop the suspect.

Indefinite pronoun 'on'.

La rupture du barrage a causé une catastrophe naturelle.

The dam's failure caused a natural disaster.

Noun 'rupture' (breaking/failure).

Il faut faire barrage à la montée du populisme.

We must block the rise of populism.

Abstract usage of 'faire barrage à'.

L'esthétique brute du barrage contraste avec la nature environnante.

The raw aesthetics of the dam contrast with the surrounding nature.

Advanced vocabulary 'esthétique brute'.

Le barrage hydroélectrique est au cœur de la transition énergétique.

The hydroelectric dam is at the heart of the energy transition.

Idiom 'au cœur de'.

Les sédiments s'accumulent au fond du barrage, ce qui pose problème.

Sediments are accumulating at the bottom of the dam, which poses a problem.

Relative pronoun 'ce qui'.

Elle a ressenti un véritable barrage émotionnel face à ses parents.

She felt a real emotional block in front of her parents.

Psychological metaphor.

Le barrage de la Rance est une prouesse technique unique au monde.

The Rance dam is a technical feat unique in the world.

Apposition and adjective placement.

Les opposants au barrage craignent pour la biodiversité locale.

Opponents of the dam fear for local biodiversity.

Verb 'craindre pour' (to fear for).

Le débit d'eau est régulé par les vannes du barrage.

The water flow is regulated by the dam's gates.

Technical term 'vannes' (sluice gates).

Faire barrage ne suffit pas, il faut aussi proposer une alternative.

Blocking is not enough; an alternative must also be proposed.

Infinitive used as a subject.

L'ouvrage d'art que constitue ce barrage défie les lois de la gravité.

The work of art that this dam constitutes defies the laws of gravity.

Complex inversion 'que constitue ce barrage'.

L'envasement du barrage réduit inexorablement sa capacité de stockage.

The silting of the dam inexorably reduces its storage capacity.

Advanced noun 'envasement' (silting).

Le concept de barrage républicain subit une érosion sans précédent.

The concept of the republican front is undergoing unprecedented erosion.

Metaphorical 'érosion'.

Le barrage sert de tampon contre les crues printanières dévastatrices.

The dam serves as a buffer against devastating spring floods.

Verb 'servir de' (to serve as).

La géopolitique de l'eau s'articule souvent autour de la gestion des barrages.

The geopolitics of water often revolves around dam management.

Pronominal verb 's'articuler autour de'.

Il s'est heurté à un barrage de silence de la part de l'administration.

He encountered a wall of silence from the administration.

Idiom 'barrage de silence'.

Le barrage-voûte utilise sa forme pour transférer la pression aux rives.

The arch dam uses its shape to transfer pressure to the banks.

Technical compound 'barrage-voûte'.

L'obsolescence programmée des grands barrages est un défi du XXIe siècle.

The planned obsolescence of large dams is a 21st-century challenge.

Advanced concept 'obsolescence programmée'.

Häufige Kollokationen

barrage hydroélectrique

barrage routier

faire barrage

match de barrage

tir de barrage

rupture de barrage

barrage filtrant

niveau du barrage

construire un barrage

céder sous le barrage

Häufige Phrasen

Le barrage a cédé.

— The dam broke. Used literally for water or figuratively for a defense.

Après des heures de pression, le barrage a cédé.

Lever le barrage.

— To remove a roadblock or obstruction.

Les manifestants ont accepté de lever le barrage.

Forcer le barrage.

— To go through a roadblock illegally or by force.

La voiture a tenté de forcer le barrage de police.

Un barrage de police.

— A police checkpoint/roadblock.

Il y a un barrage de police au bout de la rue.

Faire barrage au vent.

— To block the wind.

Ces arbres font barrage au vent.

Un barrage de questions.

— A series of rapid-fire questions.

Le journaliste a posé un barrage de questions.

Barrage de castor.

— A beaver dam.

Nous avons vu un barrage de castor dans la forêt.

Être en barrage.

— To be in a playoff situation (sports).

L'équipe est en barrage pour rester en Ligue 1.

Barrage de l'esprit.

— A mental block.

Elle a un barrage de l'esprit quand elle parle français.

Contourner le barrage.

— To go around the dam or roadblock.

Nous avons dû contourner le barrage pour arriver à l'heure.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

le barrage vs la barrière

A barrier/fence, usually smaller and not for water.

le barrage vs la digue

A dike/levee, built parallel to the shore to prevent flooding.

le barrage vs l'écluse

A lock in a canal used to raise or lower boats.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Faire barrage"

— To block a political candidate or an idea by uniting against it.

Les électeurs ont fait barrage.

political

"Tir de barrage"

— A massive and sudden amount of criticism or questions.

Le ministre a subi un tir de barrage à l'Assemblée.

journalistic

"Barrage filtrant"

— A protest tactic where only some vehicles are allowed through.

Les agriculteurs organisent un barrage filtrant.

social

"Match de barrage"

— A do-or-die qualification match.

Ils jouent leur saison sur ce match de barrage.

sports

"Barrage de la langue"

— The language barrier (though 'barrière' is more common).

Le barrage de la langue est difficile à franchir.

literary

"Casser le barrage"

— To break through an obstruction.

Il faut casser le barrage de la bureaucratie.

figurative

"Barrage républicain"

— A coalition against the far-right in France.

Le barrage républicain est une tradition française.

political

"Faire barrage de son corps"

— To physically block someone with one's body.

Le garde a fait barrage de son corps.

dramatic

"Un barrage de larmes"

— A flood of tears (metaphorically held back and then released).

Le barrage de larmes a fini par rompre.

literary

"Barrage de feu"

— A wall of fire.

Les pompiers font face à un barrage de feu.

descriptive

Leicht verwechselbar

le barrage vs garage

Sounds similar.

A garage is for cars; a barrage is for water/roads.

Je gare ma voiture dans le garage, pas sur le barrage.

le barrage vs partage

Ends in -age.

Partage means sharing; barrage means blocking.

Le partage de l'eau est difficile après le barrage.

le barrage vs bagage

Ends in -age.

Bagage means luggage.

J'ai mes bagages dans la voiture bloquée au barrage.

le barrage vs barrage (English)

False friend (partial).

English 'barrage' is usually figurative (questions); French is usually literal (dam).

In French, we say 'un barrage d'eau'.

le barrage vs virage

Ends in -age.

Virage means a turn in the road.

Il y a un barrage juste après le virage.

Satzmuster

Le barrage est [adjective].

Le barrage est grand.

Il y a un barrage sur [location].

Il y a un barrage sur la route.

Le barrage sert à [infinitive].

Le barrage sert à produire de l'électricité.

Faire barrage à [noun].

Il faut faire barrage au racisme.

Bien que le barrage soit [adjective]...

Bien que le barrage soit utile, il est dangereux.

L'enjeu réside dans la gestion du barrage.

L'enjeu réside dans la gestion du barrage transfrontalier.

Le match de barrage aura lieu [time].

Le match de barrage aura lieu demain.

On construit un barrage.

On construit un barrage sur le fleuve.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

une barre (a bar)

un barreau (a rung/bar)

un barrage (a dam)

un débarquement (a landing)

Verben

barrer (to bar/block/cross out)

débarrer (to unbar/unlock)

embarrer (to shut in)

Adjektive

barré (blocked/crossed out)

débarrassé (cleared)

Verwandt

une barrière

un obstacle

un blocage

une digue

un rempart

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in news, geography, and politics.

Häufige Fehler

La barrage → Le barrage
The noun is masculine. Words ending in -age are almost always masculine.
Faire barrage de... → Faire barrage à...
The idiom 'faire barrage' always takes the preposition 'à'.
Un barrage de questions → Une avalanche de questions
While 'barrage' works, 'avalanche' is more common for speech in French.
Un barrage de mer → Une digue
A sea wall is a 'digue', not a 'barrage'.
Le barrage a cassé → Le barrage a cédé
'Céder' is the professional term for a structure failing under pressure.

Tipps

Gender Hack

99% of -age words are masculine. Barrage is one of them. Say 'le'!

Digue vs Barrage

Think: B for Barrage = Blocks the flow. D for Digue = Defends the shore.

Political Context

When you hear 'barrage' in French news, look for election results nearby.

Soft Ending

The end of 'barrage' should sound like a soft sigh, not a hard 'g'.

Faire Barrage

This is a great phrase for B1/B2 exams to show you know political terms.

Roadblocks

In France, roadblocks are common during protests. Use 'barrage' to describe them.

Technical Precision

Use 'retenue' if you are specifically talking about the water level.

Sports News

In May/June, you'll hear 'barrages' a lot in French sports news for playoffs.

Root Word

Remember the verb 'barrer' (to bar/block) to help you remember the noun.

Visual Aid

Visualize the massive Three Gorges Dam whenever you say the word.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'BAR' that is so big it blocks a whole river. That's a 'BARRAGE'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a giant concrete wall with the word 'BAR' written on it in huge letters, holding back a mountain of water.

Word Web

eau rivière électricité police route politique blocage construction

Herausforderung

Try to find 3 different news articles online that use the word 'barrage' in different contexts (one about water, one about police, one about politics).

Wortherkunft

From the Middle French word 'barrer', which comes from the Vulgar Latin 'barra' (bar). The suffix '-age' was added to denote the result of the action of barring.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The act of barring a passage or the structure used to do so.

Romance (Latin root).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when discussing 'barrage républicain' as it is a highly charged political topic.

In English, 'barrage' usually means a rapid-fire sequence (of questions/bullets). In French, it is much more commonly a physical structure (dam).

Le barrage de la Rance (World's first tidal power station) Le barrage d'Assouan (Famous international project) Un barrage contre le Pacifique (Novel by Marguerite Duras)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Geography/Environment

Le barrage retient l'eau.
L'énergie du barrage.
Un lac de barrage.
L'impact sur les poissons.

Traffic/Travel

La route est bloquée par un barrage.
Barrage de police.
Faire un détour.
Passer le barrage.

Politics

Faire barrage à l'extrême droite.
Le front républicain.
Appeler au barrage.
Un vote de barrage.

Sports

Le match de barrage.
Se qualifier en barrage.
Jouer les barrages.
Gagner le barrage.

Military/History

Un tir de barrage.
Le barrage d'artillerie.
Défendre le barrage.
Détruire le barrage.

Gesprächseinstiege

"As-tu déjà visité un grand barrage comme celui de Hoover ?"

"Penses-tu que les barrages sont bons pour l'environnement ?"

"Que ferais-tu si tu voyais un barrage de police sur ta route ?"

"Est-ce qu'il y a beaucoup de barrages hydroélectriques dans ton pays ?"

"Que signifie pour toi l'expression 'faire barrage' en politique ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décrivez un paysage imaginaire où se trouve un immense barrage abandonné.

Imaginez que vous êtes un ingénieur qui doit construire le plus grand barrage du monde. Quels sont vos défis ?

Écrivez sur une situation de votre vie où vous avez dû 'faire barrage' à une mauvaise influence.

Racontez l'histoire d'un castor qui essaie de construire son premier barrage.

Analysez l'importance de l'énergie hydraulique dans le monde moderne.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It is masculine: 'le barrage'. Most French words ending in -age are masculine.

It is an idiom meaning 'to block' or 'to oppose', commonly used in politics to stop a candidate.

You say 'un barrage routier' or simply 'un barrage' if the context is clear.

Yes, it is 'un barrage de castors'.

It is a playoff match in sports, used for qualification or to avoid relegation.

No. A 'barrage' goes across a river; a 'digue' goes along the side to prevent flooding.

Like the 's' in 'pleasure' followed by a short 'ah' sound, but the 'e' is silent.

Yes, but 'une avalanche de questions' or 'un feu roulant' is often more natural in French.

A dam specifically built to generate electricity.

We say 'le barrage a cédé' or 'la rupture du barrage'.

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