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B1 noun 12 Min. Lesezeit

un tour

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At the A1 level, learners encounter 'un tour' primarily in the phrase 'faire un tour'. This is one of the first useful idiomatic expressions students learn to describe leisure activities. At this stage, the focus is on the basic masculine gender and the simple meaning of 'taking a walk' or 'going for a stroll'. A1 students should practice using 'un tour' with basic places, such as 'au parc', 'en ville', or 'au marché'. The goal is to understand that 'un tour' isn't just a literal circle but a concept of 'going out for a bit'. It’s important to emphasize the masculine article 'un' to prevent early confusion with 'une tour' (tower), although the latter is usually introduced later. Exercises at this level focus on simple sentence completion and identifying the word in basic dialogues about daily routines or weekend plans. For example, 'Le samedi, je fais un tour au marché.'

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By A2, the usage of 'un tour' expands to include the concept of 'a turn' in games and simple social interactions. Expressions like 'C'est mon tour' (It's my turn) or 'À ton tour' (Your turn) become essential for classroom interaction and basic social games. Learners also begin to see 'un tour' in the context of simple tourism, such as 'un tour de ville' (a city tour). The grammatical focus shifts slightly to include the preposition 'de' when going around something, like 'faire le tour de la maison'. A2 students should be able to distinguish between a functional trip (un voyage) and a casual outing (un tour). They also start to encounter fixed phrases like 'faire un tour de magie', connecting the word to the idea of a 'trick'. The language remains concrete, focusing on observable actions and immediate social needs.

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At the B1 level, 'un tour' becomes more nuanced as learners explore more complex travel and descriptive contexts. This is the stage where the definition 'a journey or excursion visiting several places' is fully realized. Students learn to describe itineraries using 'un tour' and 'un circuit'. They encounter the word in more idiomatic settings, such as 'faire le tour du monde' (to travel around the world) or 'faire le tour de la question' (to examine a matter from all angles). B1 learners are expected to handle the gender distinction between 'le tour' and 'la tour' with greater accuracy, especially when discussing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. They also begin to use 'un tour' in professional contexts, such as 'un tour de table' during meetings. The word starts to function as a tool for organizing thoughts and narratives, moving beyond simple physical actions into abstract planning and analysis.

At the B2 level, students are expected to use 'un tour' with precision in both formal and informal registers. They delve into more sophisticated idioms like 'un tour de force' (a feat of skill) or 'un tour de main' (a knack/technique). The conceptual link between rotation, sequence, and skill is explored. B2 learners should be comfortable using 'un tour' to describe complex social dynamics, such as 'à tour de rôle' (taking turns) in professional or academic debates. They also encounter the word in more technical or specialized texts, such as sports reporting (e.g., 'le tour de piste' in athletics) or political analysis (e.g., 'le second tour des élections'). The focus is on stylistic variety and the ability to choose 'un tour' over synonyms like 'périple' or 'escapade' to convey specific shades of meaning. Their understanding of the word is no longer just linguistic but cultural, recognizing its place in French history and media.

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C1 learners explore the deep polysemy and literary uses of 'un tour'. They analyze how authors use 'un tour' to create rhythm or metaphor in prose. Expressions like 'jouer un tour à quelqu'un' (to play a trick on someone) or 'prendre un mauvais tour' (to take a turn for the worse) are used fluently. At this level, the student understands the subtle difference between 'faire un tour' and 'faire sa tournée' (making one's rounds, like a doctor or a postman). They can discuss the philosophical implications of 'faire le tour de soi-même' or use 'un tour' in complex administrative or legal contexts where sequence and procedure are paramount. The C1 student uses 'un tour' as a versatile rhetorical device, capable of describing a physical journey, a mental process, a social convention, or a technical rotation with equal ease and accuracy.

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At the C2 mastery level, 'un tour' is used with complete native-like intuition. The learner understands the most obscure idiomatic expressions and the historical evolution of the word from the Latin 'tornus'. They can appreciate the wordplay in literature or headlines that exploit the tension between 'le tour' and 'la tour'. C2 speakers use 'un tour' to navigate high-level professional environments, such as describing a 'tour de table' in international diplomacy or a 'tour d'horizon' (an overview) of global economic trends. They are aware of regional variations in usage and can adapt their choice of synonyms (like 'virée' or 'pérégrination') to suit the exact social context. For a C2 learner, 'un tour' is not just a word but a multi-faceted concept that encapsulates the French way of moving through, thinking about, and organizing the world.

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Un tour is a masculine noun meaning a trip, journey, or excursion that often follows a circuit or returns to the start.
It is commonly used in the phrase 'faire un tour' to describe a casual walk, drive, or ride for pleasure.
The word also means 'a turn' in a game or sequence, as in 'C'est mon tour' (It's my turn).
It must be distinguished from the feminine 'une tour', which refers to a tall building or tower like the Eiffel Tower.

The French noun un tour is a versatile and essential term in the French language, primarily denoting a journey, a circuit, or a brief excursion. At its core, when used in the context of travel or leisure, it refers to a trip that usually returns to its starting point, encompassing several stops or sights along the way. This concept is deeply embedded in the French psyche, ranging from the casual faire un tour (to take a stroll) to the prestigious and grueling Tour de France. Understanding 'un tour' requires recognizing its masculine gender, which distinguishes it sharply from its feminine counterpart, une tour (a tower). In everyday conversation, a French speaker might use 'un tour' to describe a quick walk around the block to clear their head, or a month-long 'tour d'Europe' involving multiple capital cities. The word implies movement, often circular or sequential, and almost always suggests a sense of exploration or pleasure rather than a strictly functional commute.

The Casual Excursion: In the most common informal context, 'un tour' is used with the verb 'faire'. If a friend says, 'On fait un tour ?', they are inviting you for a short walk or a drive without a specific, high-stakes destination. It is the French equivalent of 'going for a spin' or 'stretching one's legs'. This usage is ubiquitous in French social life, representing a relaxed approach to time and space.

Après le dîner, nous avons décidé de faire un tour dans le quartier pour admirer les lumières de Noël.

The Structured Journey: Beyond the casual stroll, 'un tour' signifies a planned circuit. This is where the term aligns with the English 'tour' in a professional or organized sense. A 'tour opérateur' (tour operator) organizes 'des tours' that take tourists through various landmarks. In this sense, the word emphasizes the sequence of the journey—point A to point B to point C, and eventually back to A. It is the architectural framework of a holiday.

Le guide nous a proposé un tour complet des châteaux de la Loire en seulement trois jours.

The Figurative Turn: Finally, 'un tour' extends into the abstract. It can mean a 'turn' in a game (C'est ton tour) or a 'trick' (un tour de magie). However, even in these figurative uses, the underlying sense of a cycle or a specific movement remains. When you take your 'tour', the cycle of the game moves forward. When a magician performs a 'tour', they are executing a specific sequence of movements to achieve an effect. This richness makes 'un tour' one of the most hardworking nouns in the French language, bridging the gap between physical movement and conceptual progression.

Il a fait un tour du monde en solitaire, affrontant les océans les plus dangereux pendant des mois.

Pour bien comprendre le problème, il faut en faire un tour complet et examiner chaque détail.

Using 'un tour' effectively in French requires a grasp of the various verbs it pairs with and the nuances they convey. The most common partner is the verb faire. When you 'faites un tour', the scale of the journey can range from a five-minute walk to a multi-year global expedition. The preposition that follows often changes the meaning significantly. 'Faire un tour à' usually implies going to a specific place for a short duration (e.g., un tour à la banque), whereas 'faire le tour de' implies going around the perimeter of something or visiting all parts of a region (e.g., faire le tour de l'île). This distinction is vital for B1 learners who are moving beyond simple sentences into more descriptive narrative structures.

The Syntax of Travel: When 'un tour' describes an excursion, it often takes adjectives to specify the nature of the trip. You might hear 'un tour guidé' (a guided tour), 'un petit tour' (a short stroll), or 'un grand tour' (a major journey). Note that in French, the adjective usually follows the noun, but 'petit' and 'grand' are exceptions that precede it. This placement affects the rhythm and emphasis of your sentence.

Nous avons réservé un tour organisé pour visiter les pyramides sans stress.

Expressing Rotation and Cycles: In technical or physical contexts, 'un tour' describes a full rotation. For instance, an engine's speed is measured in 'tours par minute' (revolutions per minute). In sports, 'un tour de piste' is one lap of the track. When using the word this way, it is often quantifiable. You can do 'deux tours', 'dix tours', etc. This usage is very literal and helps learners understand the geometric root of the word—the circle.

Le coureur a entamé son dernier un tour de stade sous les acclamations de la foule.

Social and Idiomatic Usage: In social settings, 'à tour de rôle' is a common phrase meaning 'in turn' or 'taking turns'. If you are at a dinner party and everyone is sharing a story, they are doing it 'à tour de rôle'. Another crucial phrase is 'tour à tour', which means 'alternately' or 'one after another'. These structures show how 'un tour' organizes social interaction and the passage of time.

Les enfants ont utilisé le toboggan à tour de rôle pour éviter les disputes.

Ce nouveau roman est un tour de force littéraire qui captive le lecteur dès la première page.

You will encounter 'un tour' in almost every corner of French life, from the bustling streets of Paris to the quiet villages of Provence. In the context of tourism, it is the standard word for any sightseeing activity. When you visit a tourist office (Office de Tourisme), the brochures will be filled with 'tours de ville' (city tours) and 'tours panoramiques'. If you are listening to the radio in July, the term 'Le Tour' will refer exclusively to the Tour France, the world-famous bicycle race. In this context, 'un tour' represents the ultimate athletic challenge and a national symbol of French geography and heritage.

In the Streets and Cafés: If you are sitting in a café, you might hear someone say, 'Je vais faire un petit tour avant que le film ne commence.' This informal use is perhaps the most frequent. It signals a desire for a change of scenery, a breath of fresh air, or a casual exploration of the immediate surroundings. It’s a very 'flâneur' concept—the idea of wandering without a strict purpose but with a sense of enjoyment.

On va faire un tour au marché ce matin pour acheter des produits frais ?

In Games and Sports: Whether it's a board game like Monopoly or a professional tennis match, 'le tour' is the word for your opportunity to play. 'C'est à qui le tour ?' (Whose turn is it?) is a phrase every French child learns early. In sports, it also refers to rounds of a competition. For example, 'le premier tour' of the presidential elections or a tennis tournament. Here, 'un tour' is a structural unit of time and competition.

C'est enfin mon un tour de jouer, et j'espère bien gagner cette partie !

In Professional and Technical Settings: In a meeting, a chairperson might suggest 'un tour de table', which means asking everyone around the table to give their opinion or introduce themselves. This 'tour' ensures that every voice is heard in a systematic way. In mechanics, 'un tour' is a revolution of a wheel or gear. This diversity of application—from politics to mechanics—shows how 'un tour' functions as a fundamental concept of order and rotation in French culture.

Avant de prendre une décision, faisons un tour de table pour recueillir les avis de chacun.

Le moteur fait trois mille un tours par minute en régime de croisière.

For English speakers, the most frequent pitfall with 'un tour' is the gender confusion between le tour and la tour. This is a classic 'faux ami' situation where the gender completely alters the meaning. Le tour (masculine) is the trip, the turn, or the circuit. La tour (feminine) is the tower, the skyscraper, or the rook in chess. Saying 'J'ai visité le tour Eiffel' is a major grammatical error because the Eiffel Tower is a building, thus feminine. Conversely, saying 'C'est ma tour de jouer' sounds like you are claiming a building instead of your turn in a game.

Gender Confusion: Le vs La: This mistake is so common that it’s often used as a test for intermediate learners. Always remember: if it’s about movement or sequence, it’s masculine (un tour). If it’s a tall, static structure, it’s feminine (une tour). Think of 'un tour' as something that 'turns' (masculine) and 'une tour' as a 'tower' (feminine).

Erreur: Je vais faire une tour au parc. Correction: Je vais faire un tour au parc.

Misusing 'Voyage' vs 'Tour': Another common mistake is using 'un tour' when you actually mean 'un voyage' (a trip/travel). While 'un tour' can be a journey, it usually implies a circuit or a short excursion. If you are going to Japan for two weeks to stay in one city, that is 'un voyage'. If you are going to Japan to visit five different cities in a loop, you can call it 'un tour du Japon'. Using 'tour' for a simple one-way trip or a long stay in one place can sound unnatural.

Il a fait le tour de la question avant de donner sa réponse définitive.

Confusing 'Tour' with 'Trajet': A 'trajet' is the path or route between two points. A 'tour' is the entire experience of the excursion. If you are talking about the 2-hour drive to your grandmother's house, use 'trajet'. If you are talking about the pleasant Sunday drive you took through the countryside, 'un tour' is more appropriate. One is functional; the other is experiential.

Le trajet était long, mais le tour de la ville était magnifique.

Ne vous inquiétez pas, chacun aura son tour pour poser des questions au conférencier.

To truly enrich your French vocabulary, it's helpful to compare 'un tour' with its synonyms and related terms. While 'un tour' is general, other words offer more precision depending on the context of the journey or the 'turn'. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and less like a textbook.

Une Excursion vs Un Tour: An 'excursion' is typically a short trip made for a specific purpose, often educational or recreational, and usually involving a group. 'Un tour' can be more personal and less formal. You might go for 'un tour' alone, but you would likely join an 'excursion' organized by a school or a club. 'Excursion' sounds a bit more formal and planned.

L'école a organisé une excursion au musée, mais j'ai préféré faire un tour dans le jardin botanique.

Un Périple vs Un Tour: A 'périple' is a long, arduous, and often adventurous journey involving many stages. While 'un tour du monde' is a common phrase, calling it 'un périple' adds a layer of difficulty and epic scale. If your 'tour' was full of obstacles and surprises, 'périple' is the word you want. It evokes the spirit of Odysseus or great explorers.

Leur périple à travers l'Asie a duré six mois et a changé leur vision du monde.

Un Circuit vs Un Tour: In a travel agency, you will see 'un circuit'. This is a highly structured 'tour' with a fixed itinerary, pre-booked hotels, and specific activities. While 'un tour' can be vague, 'un circuit' implies a professional package. In sports, 'un circuit' refers to the set of tracks or locations where races happen (e.g., the F1 circuit). Use 'circuit' when the path is well-defined and repetitive.

Nous avons choisi un circuit touristique qui inclut toutes les grandes capitales européennes.

Après une longue journée de travail, une simple promenade en forêt suffit à me détendre.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The term 'Tour de France' was originally created by a newspaper, L'Auto, in 1903 to boost its circulation. It has since become the most famous 'tour' in the world.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /tuʁ/

US /tuɹ/

The stress is on the single syllable.

Reimt sich auf

jour cour amour four sourds toujours secours contours

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it like the English 'tower' (taʊər).
Failing to pronounce the French 'r' correctly.
Confusing the vowel sound with 'u' (tu), which is more forward in the mouth.
Adding an 'e' sound at the end.
Pronouncing the 'r' too harshly like a Spanish rolled 'r'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize but requires context to distinguish from 'une tour'.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires correct gender and preposition usage ('de' vs 'à').

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward but the 'r' can be tricky.

Hören 3/5

Must distinguish 'le' from 'la' in fast speech.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

faire voyage monde jeu ville

Als Nächstes lernen

tournée tourner circuit périple excursion

Fortgeschritten

tour de force tour d'horizon tour de main tournure

Wichtige Grammatik

Gender of nouns ending in -our

Le tour, le jour, le four (mostly masculine).

Preposition 'de' with 'le tour'

Faire le tour de l'île.

Position of 'petit' and 'grand'

Un petit tour, un grand tour.

Using 'on' for suggestions

On fait un tour ?

The 'c'est à [personne] de' structure

C'est à moi de faire un tour.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Je fais un tour au parc.

I am taking a stroll in the park.

Uses 'faire un tour' to mean a casual walk.

Tu fais un tour en ville ?

Are you going for a spin in town?

Question form of the basic expression.

Nous faisons un tour à vélo.

We are going for a bike ride.

Specifies the mode of transport.

Il fait un petit tour ce soir.

He is going for a little walk tonight.

Uses the adjective 'petit' before the noun.

Elle fait un tour au marché.

She is taking a look at the market.

Common destination for 'un tour'.

On fait un tour ensemble ?

Shall we go for a walk together?

Informal 'on' used for a proposal.

Je vais faire un tour en voiture.

I'm going for a drive.

Future proche with 'faire un tour'.

Regarde, il fait un tour !

Look, he's doing a turn!

Refers to a literal rotation.

C'est ton tour de jouer.

It's your turn to play.

Uses 'tour' to mean 'turn' in a sequence.

Le guide propose un tour de ville.

The guide offers a city tour.

Refers to an organized excursion.

J'ai fait le tour de la maison.

I went around the house.

Preposition 'le tour de' means 'around'.

Chacun son tour pour le toboggan.

Each person has their turn for the slide.

Implies taking turns fairly.

Il connaît un tour de magie.

He knows a magic trick.

'Tour de magie' is a fixed expression.

Nous avons fait un tour en bateau.

We took a boat trip.

Excursion by water.

C'est à mon tour de faire la vaisselle.

It's my turn to do the dishes.

'C'est à [personne] le tour de' structure.

Ils font un tour dans le jardin.

They are taking a walk in the garden.

Plural subject with the expression.

Ils préparent un tour du monde.

They are preparing a trip around the world.

'Tour du monde' is a major journey.

Faisons un tour de table pour commencer.

Let's go around the table to begin.

Idiom for hearing everyone's opinion.

Le coureur a fini son premier tour.

The runner finished his first lap.

Refers to a lap in sports.

Il a fait le tour de la question.

He has examined the matter thoroughly.

Idiom meaning 'to consider all aspects'.

Nous avons fait un tour organisé en Italie.

We took an organized tour in Italy.

Refers to a professional travel package.

Prends un tour à droite après le pont.

Take a turn to the right after the bridge.

Refers to a change in direction.

C'est un tournant dans sa carrière.

It's a turning point in his career.

Related word 'tournant' meaning turning point.

Elle a fait un tour à la bibliothèque.

She stopped by the library.

Implies a short, purposeful visit.

C'est un véritable tour de force.

It's a real feat of strength/skill.

Idiom for an impressive achievement.

Ils travaillent à tour de rôle.

They work in shifts / taking turns.

'À tour de rôle' means sequentially.

L'élection se joue au second tour.

The election is decided in the second round.

Refers to a round of voting.

Il a le tour de main pour la pâtisserie.

He has the knack for pastry making.

Idiom for a specific skill or technique.

Nous avons fait le tour des vignobles.

We toured the vineyards.

Implies visiting multiple locations in an area.

Le vent a fait faire un tour à l'avion.

The wind made the plane turn around.

Physical rotation caused by external force.

Elle a fait un tour d'horizon des options.

She gave an overview of the options.

Idiom for a broad summary.

Il m'a joué un sale tour.

He played a mean trick on me.

'Jouer un tour' means to deceive or prank.

Le récit prend un tour inattendu.

The story takes an unexpected turn.

Refers to the direction or style of a narrative.

Il a fait le tour de son sujet avec brio.

He covered his subject brilliantly.

Implies exhaustive and skillful coverage.

La situation pourrait prendre un mauvais tour.

The situation could take a turn for the worse.

Idiom for a deteriorating condition.

Ils ont fait une tournée des bars.

They went on a bar crawl.

Related word 'tournée' for a series of visits.

L'artiste est en tour de chant.

The artist is on a singing tour.

Specific term for a musical tour.

C'est un tour d'esprit très particulier.

It's a very particular way of thinking.

Refers to a mental disposition or style.

Le moteur tourne à plein régime.

The engine is running at full speed.

Verb 'tourner' related to 'tour'.

Il a l'habitude de faire le tour du pâté de maisons.

He's in the habit of walking around the block.

Specific phrase for a local circuit.

L'intrigue se dénoue par un tour de passe-passe.

The plot resolves through a sleight of hand.

Metaphorical use of a magic term.

Son tour d'horizon géopolitique fut magistral.

His geopolitical overview was masterly.

High-level academic/professional usage.

Il s'agit d'un tour de cochon qu'il ne lui pardonnera pas.

It's a dirty trick that he won't forgive him for.

Informal/Slang idiom for a betrayal.

Le destin a plus d'un tour dans son sac.

Fate has more than one trick up its sleeve.

Personification using the 'trick' meaning.

Ils ont procédé à un tour de scrutin serré.

They proceeded to a close round of voting.

Formal political terminology.

L'œuvre témoigne d'un tour de main artisanal rare.

The work shows a rare artisanal skill.

Elevated use of 'tour de main'.

Le malentendu a pris un tour polémique.

The misunderstanding took a controversial turn.

Describes the evolution of a social situation.

Il a fait le tour de la question de manière exhaustive.

He examined the question in an exhaustive manner.

Formal academic register.

Synonyme

excursion circuit promenade virée périple voyage ronde boucle

Gegenteile

stagnation arrêt immobilité fixité

Häufige Kollokationen

faire un tour

faire le tour de

tour de ville

à tour de rôle

tour de magie

tour de force

tour de table

tour de piste

premier tour

tour d'horizon

Häufige Phrasen

C'est ton tour.

— It is your time to act in a game or sequence.

C'est ton tour de lancer les dés.

Faire un tour de rein.

— To strain or hurt one's back suddenly.

Il s'est fait un tour de rein en soulevant ce carton.

En un tour de main.

— In a jiffy; very quickly and easily.

Elle a réparé le vélo en un tour de main.

Faire un tour de cochon.

— To play a mean or dirty trick on someone.

Il m'a fait un tour de cochon en volant mon idée.

Prendre un mauvais tour.

— To take a turn for the worse.

La discussion a pris un mauvais tour.

Tour à tour.

— One after another; alternately.

Ils ont parlé tour à tour pendant l'audience.

Faire le tour du propriétaire.

— To take a look around a new place (like a house).

Venez, je vous fais le tour du propriétaire.

Un tour de chauffe.

— A warm-up lap or a trial run.

C'était juste un tour de chauffe avant le vrai test.

Faire un tour de piste.

— To do a lap of the track; also used figuratively for a trial.

L'avion a fait un tour de piste avant d'atterrir.

Avoir plus d'un tour dans son sac.

— To have more than one trick up one's sleeve.

Ne le sous-estime pas, il a plus d'un tour dans son sac.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

un tour vs une tour

Feminine, means a tower or a tall building.

un tour vs un trajet

Refers to the specific route or distance between two points.

un tour vs un voyage

A general term for travel, whereas 'tour' often implies a circuit.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Tour de force"

— An impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished with great skill.

Sa présentation était un véritable tour de force.

formal

"Tour de main"

— A special skill or knack for doing something quickly and well.

Elle a le tour de main pour faire des crêpes parfaites.

neutral

"Jouer un tour"

— To deceive or play a prank on someone.

Les enfants aiment jouer des tours à leur professeur.

neutral

"Tour d'horizon"

— A general overview or survey of a subject.

Le ministre a fait un tour d'horizon de la situation économique.

formal

"À tour de bras"

— With all one's might or in great quantity (usually repetitive action).

Ils ont distribué des prospectus à tour de bras.

informal

"C'est à qui le tour ?"

— Whose turn is it?

J'ai fini, c'est à qui le tour ?

neutral

"Faire le tour de la question"

— To examine all aspects of a problem or topic.

Après avoir fait le tour de la question, nous avons décidé de partir.

neutral

"Un tour de cochon"

— A low blow or a dirty trick.

C'est un tour de cochon de m'avoir dénoncé.

informal

"En un tour de main"

— Very rapidly.

Le déjeuner a été prêt en un tour de main.

neutral

"Passer son tour"

— To skip one's turn or to decline an opportunity.

Je suis trop fatigué, je passe mon tour pour cette sortie.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

un tour vs une tour

Identical spelling, different gender.

Masculine is a trip/turn; feminine is a building.

Le tour de France vs La tour Eiffel.

un tour vs une tournée

Related root and meaning.

A 'tournée' is a professional round (postman, doctor, musician).

Le facteur fait sa tournée.

un tour vs un retour

Contains the word 'tour'.

Means 'a return' or 'coming back'.

Bon retour parmi nous !

un tour vs un détour

Contains the word 'tour'.

Means 'a detour' or 'a longer way'.

Nous avons fait un détour par la forêt.

un tour vs un contour

Contains the word 'tour'.

Means 'an outline' or 'perimeter'.

Le contour de l'île est rocheux.

Satzmuster

Je fais un tour à [lieu].

Je fais un tour à la plage.

C'est le tour de [nom].

C'est le tour de Marie.

Nous avons fait le tour de [quelque chose].

Nous avons fait le tour de la question.

[Sujet] est un tour de force.

Ce film est un tour de force.

Prendre un tour [adjectif].

L'événement a pris un tour tragique.

À tour de [nom].

Ils ont crié à tour de bras.

Faire un tour guidé de [lieu].

Faisons un tour guidé de Paris.

À ton tour de [infinitif].

À ton tour de chanter.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

tournée (f) - a round or tour

tourisme (m) - tourism

touriste (m/f) - tourist

tournoi (m) - tournament

tourniquet (m) - turnstile

Verben

tourner - to turn

tournoyer - to swirl

contourner - to bypass

retourner - to return

Adjektive

touristique - touristy

tournant - turning

contourné - convoluted

Verwandt

un tourneur

une tournure

un retour

un détour

un contour

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in daily conversation and media.

Häufige Fehler

La Tour de France → Le Tour de France
The race is a circuit, so it must be masculine.
J'ai fait une tour au parc. → J'ai fait un tour au parc.
A walk is masculine. A 'tour' (f) is a building.
C'est ma tour de jouer. → C'est mon tour de jouer.
A turn in a game is masculine.
Faire le tour l'île. → Faire le tour de l'île.
You need the preposition 'de' after 'le tour'.
Je vais visiter le tour Eiffel. → Je vais visiter la tour Eiffel.
The building is feminine.

Tipps

Gender Mnemonic

Think of 'Le' (Masculine) as 'Go' (Movement) and 'La' (Feminine) as 'Stay' (Building). Un tour moves!

Casual Suggestion

If you want to suggest a walk, just say 'On fait un tour ?'. It's very natural and friendly.

Idiom Mastery

Learn 'en un tour de main'. It's a great way to say 'quickly' and sounds very native.

Soft 'R'

The 'r' in 'tour' is soft. Don't let it sound like 'tower' or 'tore'.

The Big One

When French people say 'Le Tour', they almost always mean the cycling race. Context is key!

Preposition Match

Use 'de' to describe going around something: 'le tour du pâté de maisons'.

Game Context

If you hear 'C'est à toi', it's often followed by 'le tour'. It means 'Your turn'.

Stylistic 'Tour'

In literature, 'un tour' can describe a writer's style or 'turn of phrase'.

Fairness

Use 'chacun son tour' to remind people to wait for their turn politely.

RPMs

In car reviews, look for 'tr/min'. This stands for 'tours par minute'.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'tour' as a 'turn'. When you take a tour, you 'turn' around a city. When it's your 'tour' in a game, it's your 'turn'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a bicycle wheel spinning. Each full rotation is 'un tour'. Now imagine that wheel rolling through various cities in France—that's the 'Tour de France'.

Word Web

Voyage Circuit Promenade Magie Jeu Rotation Sport Table

Herausforderung

Try to use 'un tour' in three different ways today: once for a walk, once for a turn in a conversation, and once for a trip you want to take.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Old French 'tor', which comes from the Latin 'tornus'. The Latin word itself is a loanword from the Greek 'tornos', meaning a 'lathe' or a 'tool for drawing a circle'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The original meaning referred to a circular motion or a tool used to create circular objects.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > French.

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities, but be careful with 'tour de cochon' as it can be offensive in formal contexts.

English speakers often use 'tour' for music or professional sightseeing, but French uses it much more casually for simple walks.

Le Tour de France (Cycling race) Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours (Jules Verne) La Tour Montparnasse (though feminine, often contrasted with 'un tour')

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Tourism

un tour guidé
faire le tour de la ville
un tour opérateur
un tour panoramique

Gaming

C'est mon tour.
Passer son tour.
À qui le tour ?
Chacun son tour.

Sports

Le Tour de France
un tour de piste
le premier tour
faire un tour sur soi-même

Abstract/Idiomatic

faire le tour de la question
un tour de force
un tour d'horizon
prendre un mauvais tour

Mechanics

tours par minute
un tour de vis
faire un tour complet
le tour d'un engrenage

Gesprächseinstiege

"As-tu déjà fait un tour du monde ou aimerais-tu en faire un ?"

"Quel est le plus beau tour de ville que tu aies jamais fait ?"

"Est-ce que tu aimes faire un tour au marché le dimanche matin ?"

"À ton avis, quel est le meilleur tour de magie au monde ?"

"Préfères-tu les tours organisés ou voyager en solo ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris un tour que tu as fait récemment dans ta ville. Qu'as-tu vu ?

Si tu pouvais faire le tour du monde, quels pays visiterais-tu en premier ?

Raconte une fois où c'était ton tour de faire quelque chose de difficile.

Penses-tu que les tours organisés sont une bonne façon de découvrir une culture ?

Imagine que tu es un magicien. Quel tour de magie inventerais-tu ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, when it means a trip, a turn, a rotation, or a trick, it is masculine. If you use 'la tour', you are talking about a tower.

'Faire une promenade' specifically means walking. 'Faire un tour' is more general and can involve a car, bike, or boat.

Only if it involves visiting multiple locations in a circuit. Otherwise, use 'un voyage d'affaires'.

It means 'taking turns' or 'sequentially'. Example: 'Les enfants jouent à tour de rôle'.

You can say 'C'est mon tour' or 'C'est à mon tour'.

Yes, 'Le Tour de France' is masculine because it is a race/circuit.

It is a meeting technique where everyone around the table speaks in turn.

Yes, 'un tour de magie' is a magic trick, and 'jouer un tour' is to play a prank.

Yes, French elections have a 'premier tour' (first round) and 'second tour' (second round).

Yes, 'tours par minute' (RPM) is the standard term in mechanics.

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writing

Translate: 'I am taking a walk in the city.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use 'faire un tour' for a walk.