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A2 noun 9分で読める

flaque

練習する例文メモとヒント flaque 30秒で

解説 flaque in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'une flaque' means 'a puddle'. It is a feminine noun. You will mostly use it to describe the weather or simple actions. For example, 'Il y a une flaque d'eau' (There is a puddle of water). At this stage, focus on the gender (la flaque) and the basic spelling. You might see it in children's books or simple weather descriptions. It is a concrete noun, meaning it refers to something you can see and touch. Try to remember it by imagining a rainy day in Paris and the small pools of water on the ground. Don't worry about complex metaphors yet; just use it for water on the floor or ground.

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At the A2 level, you should be able to use 'flaque' in more complete sentences and with common verbs. You should know phrases like 'sauter dans une flaque' (to jump in a puddle) or 'éviter les flaques' (to avoid puddles). You can also start using it to describe different liquids, like 'une flaque de lait' or 'une flaque d'huile'. You should be comfortable making the adjective agree with the noun, such as 'une petite flaque' or 'une flaque sale'. At this level, you are expected to understand the word when someone gives you a warning, like 'Fais attention à la flaque !' (Watch out for the puddle!).

At the B1 level, you can use 'flaque' to add descriptive detail to your stories or daily accounts. You might describe the reflection in a puddle: 'Je voyais les nuages dans la flaque.' You are also aware of how 'flaque' differs from 'mare' or 'étang'. You can use the word in more varied contexts, such as describing a messy kitchen or a car leak. Your vocabulary is expanding to include related terms like 'éclabousser' (to splash/splatter), which often happens when someone steps in a 'flaque'. You can also use it in the past tense to describe the aftermath of a storm: 'Après la pluie, le chemin était plein de flaques.'

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At the B2 level, you understand the more subtle and metaphorical uses of 'flaque'. You might encounter it in literature to describe a 'flaque de lumière' (a pool of light) or to create a specific mood in a narrative. You are comfortable with the word in technical or professional contexts, such as a mechanic describing a leak or a news report about road safety. You can use it fluently in conversation without thinking about the gender or spelling. You also understand regional variations, even if you don't use them yourself, and you can discuss the environmental impact of 'flaques d'huile' or other pollutants in urban runoff.

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At the C1 level, 'flaque' is a tool for precise and evocative writing. You can use it to create vivid imagery, perhaps using it as a symbol of transience or decay in a literary analysis. You understand the nuances between 'flaque', 'gouille', and 'trou d'eau'. You can use the word in complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or with sophisticated relative clauses: 'La flaque dans laquelle se reflétait mélancoliquement le vieux clocher...' Your use of the word is natural, and you can use it to express irony or humor, such as describing a very small problem as a 'flaque' compared to an 'océan'.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'flaque', including its etymology and its place within the history of the French language. You can use it in highly specialized or artistic ways, perhaps in poetry or experimental prose. You are aware of its use in historical texts and how its meaning might have shifted slightly over centuries. You can engage in deep discussions about the aesthetics of 'la flaque' in French cinema or photography. The word is no longer just a vocabulary item but a building block for complex, nuanced expression that captures the essence of a moment or a scene with absolute precision.

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練習する例文メモとヒント

flaque 30秒で

A 'flaque' is a feminine French noun meaning 'puddle.' It is commonly used for rainwater on the ground but can apply to any spilled liquid.
It is a CEFR A2 level word, essential for daily life, weather talk, and navigating urban or rural environments after a rainstorm.
Grammatically, it is always feminine ('la flaque'). Common phrases include 'sauter dans une flaque' (to jump in a puddle) and 'flaque d'eau' (water puddle).
It is distinct from 'mare' (pond) or 'étang' (lake) due to its shallow, temporary nature. It is a very common word in French culture and literature.

The French word flaque is a feminine noun that translates most directly to the English word 'puddle.' At its core, it describes a small, shallow accumulation of liquid on a surface, typically the ground. While its most common association is with rainwater on a sidewalk or a muddy path, it is a versatile term that can describe any small pool of liquid. Understanding 'flaque' is essential for A2 learners because it appears frequently in daily weather descriptions, childhood narratives, and urban observations. In French culture, the 'flaque' is often romanticized in literature and cinema to reflect the gray, rainy beauty of cities like Paris, where the cobblestones create natural basins for these small pools. It is a word that evokes sensory details: the sound of a splash, the coldness of water soaking through a shoe, and the visual reflection of the sky on the ground.

Common Usage: Used to describe rainwater on the street after a storm.
Spills: Used for kitchen accidents, like a 'flaque de lait' (puddle of milk) on the floor.
Technical/Accidental: Used for oil leaks under a car, known as a 'flaque d'huile'.

Regarde l'oiseau qui se baigne dans cette petite flaque.

Beyond the literal, 'flaque' can also be used metaphorically in literature to describe pools of light or even emotional states, though these are more advanced uses. For a beginner or intermediate learner, focusing on the physical presence of a 'flaque' is key. You will often hear it paired with verbs like 'sauter' (to jump), 'éviter' (to avoid), or 'marcher' (to walk). It is a word that demands attention to the ground. In a city, avoiding a 'flaque' is a daily dance during the autumn months. In the countryside, a 'flaque' might be a muddy obstacle on a hiking trail. The word itself has a short, percussive sound—ending in a hard 'k' sound—which almost mimics the sound of a quick splash.

Il y avait une flaque de sang sur le sol dans ce film policier.

The word's origin is Germanic, likely from the Middle Low German 'placke', referring to a patch or spot. This history highlights how the word describes a localized 'patch' of liquid rather than a large body of water. When you use 'flaque', you are describing something contained. If the water were to spread out significantly, you might use 'inondation' (flood), and if it were a natural permanent feature, you might use 'mare' (pond). Thus, 'flaque' conveys a sense of temporality; it is something that will eventually evaporate or be cleaned up. This ephemeral nature makes it a perfect word for describing the aftermath of a fleeting rain shower.

Le soleil a rapidement fait sécher chaque flaque sur le trottoir.

Using 'flaque' correctly involves understanding its grammatical gender and the typical prepositions that accompany it. Since it is feminine, adjectives must agree: 'une grande flaque', 'une flaque profonde' (a deep puddle), or 'des flaques boueuses' (muddy puddles). When describing what the puddle is made of, use the preposition 'de'. For example, 'une flaque d'eau' is a puddle of water, while 'une flaque de boue' is a puddle of mud. This structure is very consistent in French.

With Verbs of Movement: Sauter dans une flaque (To jump in a puddle). Marcher dans une flaque (To walk into a puddle).
With Verbs of Perception: Voir son reflet dans une flaque (To see one's reflection in a puddle).

Les enfants portent des bottes pour sauter dans les flaques.

In more descriptive or literary contexts, 'flaque' can be modified by evocative adjectives. You might see 'une flaque miroitante' (a shimmering puddle) or 'une flaque stagnante' (a stagnant puddle). The word is also useful in crime fiction or medical contexts to describe 'une flaque de sang' (a pool of blood). In these cases, the word emphasizes the lack of movement and the flat, horizontal nature of the liquid. It is rarely used for vertical surfaces; a 'flaque' is almost always on the floor or ground.

Attention ! Ne marche pas dans cette flaque d'huile, c'est glissant.

When talking about the size, 'petite' and 'grande' are the most common descriptors. However, if a puddle is particularly large and deep, a native speaker might transition to the word 'mare', which usually implies a pond but can colloquially describe a very large puddle. In regional French, particularly in Switzerland or parts of Eastern France, you might hear the word 'gouille' instead of 'flaque', but 'flaque' remains the standard, universally understood term across the Francophone world.

La voiture a éclaboussé les passants en roulant dans une flaque.

You will encounter the word 'flaque' in a variety of real-life settings. The most common is during weather reports or casual conversations about the weather. If it has been raining heavily, people will complain about the 'flaques d'eau' on the sidewalks. In a family setting, parents are constantly telling their children, 'Ne saute pas dans la flaque !' (Don't jump in the puddle!), usually because the child is not wearing waterproof boots. It is a word deeply tied to childhood memories of rainy days and yellow raincoats.

Urban Environment: Pedestrians navigating around puddles after a storm in Paris or Montreal.
News & Media: Reporting on road conditions or accidents involving hydroplaning on large puddles.

Le trottoir était couvert de flaques après l'orage d'hier soir.

In the world of literature and art, 'flaque' is used to create atmosphere. Poets use it to describe reflections—the idea of a 'flaque' acting as a mirror for the city lights or the moon. In cinema, especially in the 'Film Noir' genre or French New Wave, shots of puddles are often used to establish a moody, damp setting. When you hear the word in these contexts, it's often more about the visual texture of the scene than a simple obstacle. It adds a layer of realism and grit to the storytelling.

Les néons de la ville se reflétaient dans une flaque d'eau sur le bitume.

Another common place to hear 'flaque' is in the garage or when discussing car maintenance. A 'flaque d'huile' (oil puddle) or 'flaque de liquide de refroidissement' (coolant puddle) under a vehicle is a universal sign of mechanical trouble. In this context, 'flaque' is a word of warning. Similarly, in a kitchen or restaurant, a server might say, 'Attention, il y a une flaque par terre' to prevent someone from slipping. It is a practical, everyday word that helps navigate the physical world safely.

The most frequent mistake learners make with 'flaque' is regarding its gender. Because it ends in '-e', some might assume it is masculine or feminine without certainty, but it is strictly feminine. Saying 'le flaque' will immediately sound incorrect to a native speaker. Another common error is confusing 'flaque' with 'mare'. While both involve standing water, a 'mare' is a permanent pond, often with an ecosystem (frogs, plants), whereas a 'flaque' is temporary and usually accidental or weather-related.

Gender Error: Saying 'Un grand flaque' instead of 'Une grande flaque'.
Vocabulary Confusion: Using 'flaque' to describe a lake or a large permanent body of water.

Faux : J'ai vu un flaque. Correct : J'ai vu une flaque.

Pronunciation can also be a hurdle. The 'qu' in French is pronounced as a hard 'k', and the 'e' at the end is silent. Learners sometimes try to pronounce the 'u' or add an extra syllable at the end. It should rhyme with the English word 'black' but with a softer 'a' sound (like in 'father', but shorter). Mispronouncing it as 'flak-uh' or 'fla-kew' will make it harder for locals to understand you. Keep it short and sharp.

Il ne faut pas confondre une flaque avec une mare ou un étang.

Finally, English speakers sometimes use 'puddle' for things that French speakers wouldn't use 'flaque' for. For instance, if you spill a tiny drop of water, it's just 'une goutte' (a drop). A 'flaque' requires enough volume to actually sit on the surface. Conversely, if a pipe bursts and the whole room is covered in water, 'flaque' is too small; you would say 'le sol est inondé' (the floor is flooded). Understanding the scale is crucial for natural-sounding French.

While 'flaque' is the standard term, French offers several alternatives depending on the size of the water body and the regional context. Knowing these helps you fine-tune your descriptions and understand different dialects. The most common 'cousin' is 'une mare', which usually refers to a small pond or a very large, deep puddle that doesn't disappear quickly. In a garden, you might have 'une mare aux canards' (a duck pond).

Mare: Larger than a flaque, often permanent and found in nature.
Gouille: Regional term (Switzerland/Savoie) for a puddle or a small muddy hole.
Étang: A pond or small lake, much larger and more formal than a flaque.

La flaque est temporaire, mais la mare est un petit écosystème.

Another word is 'un point d'eau'. This is more generic and can refer to any place where water is available, such as a watering hole for animals or a fountain. If you are describing a spill that is very thin and covers a large area, you might use 'une nappe' (like 'une nappe de pétrole' for an oil slick). For a very small amount of liquid, like what's left after wiping a table, you might just say 'des traces d'eau' (traces of water).

Il a plu tellement fort que le jardin est rempli de flaques.

In literary French, you might encounter 'un miroir d'eau', which poetically describes a puddle or a still body of water that reflects its surroundings. However, in everyday speech, stick to 'flaque'. If you want to describe a puddle specifically made of mud, 'une flaque de boue' is perfect, but some might simply say 'de la boue' (some mud) if the shape of the puddle isn't important. Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the word that best fits the 'vibe' of your sentence.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

Despite looking like the English word 'flake', it is actually more closely related to the concept of a 'patch' of liquid. It's a great example of how French absorbed Germanic words during the Middle Ages.

発音ガイド

UK /flæk/

US /flæk/

Stress is on the only syllable.

韻が合う語

sac lac bac vrac clac tictac bivouac parc (near rhyme)

よくある間違い

Pronouncing the 'u' (e.g., 'fla-kew')
Adding an 'uh' sound at the end ('fla-kuh')
Using a long 'ay' sound like 'flake'
Making the 'a' sound too nasal
Softening the 'k' sound

難易度

読解 2/5

Very easy to recognize in text. Usually surrounded by context clues like 'eau' or 'pluie'.

ライティング 3/5

Spelling 'qu' instead of 'k' is the only minor hurdle.

スピーキング 2/5

Simple one-syllable pronunciation once you know the 'e' is silent.

リスニング 3/5

Can be missed in fast speech because it is short.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

eau pluie sol petit grand

次に学ぶ

mare inondation éclabousser mouillé parapluie

上級

stagnant miroitant visqueux hydrocarbures réverbération

知っておくべき文法

Feminine noun agreement

Une flaque **profonde** (not profond).

Plural formation

Des flaque**s** (add 's', but don't pronounce it).

Preposition 'de' for contents

Une flaque **de** boue.

Contraction with 'le/les'

Le reflet **de la** flaque (not du flaque).

Silent final 'e'

Pronounced /flak/, not /flakuh/.

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レベル別の例文

Il y a une flaque d'eau.

There is a puddle of water.

Feminine singular noun.

La flaque est petite.

The puddle is small.

Adjective 'petite' agrees with feminine 'flaque'.

Regarde la flaque !

Look at the puddle!

Imperative sentence.

Il ne pleut plus, mais il y a des flaques.

It is not raining anymore, but there are puddles.

Plural 'flaques' with silent 's'.

C'est une flaque de boue.

It is a mud puddle.

Use of 'de' to describe content.

Le chien boit dans la flaque.

The dog is drinking from the puddle.

Simple present tense.

Je vois une flaque.

I see a puddle.

Direct object.

La flaque est sur le trottoir.

The puddle is on the sidewalk.

Preposition 'sur'.

Attention, ne marche pas dans la flaque !

Watch out, don't walk in the puddle!

Negative imperative.

L'enfant saute dans chaque flaque.

The child jumps in every puddle.

Use of 'chaque' (each).

Il y a une grande flaque devant la porte.

There is a large puddle in front of the door.

Prepositional phrase 'devant la porte'.

Mes chaussures sont mouillées à cause d'une flaque.

My shoes are wet because of a puddle.

Expression 'à cause de'.

Le chat évite soigneusement la flaque d'eau.

The cat carefully avoids the puddle of water.

Adverb 'soigneusement'.

Il y a une flaque d'huile sous la voiture.

There is an oil puddle under the car.

Technical context.

Nous avons nettoyé la flaque de lait dans la cuisine.

We cleaned up the puddle of milk in the kitchen.

Passé composé tense.

Les flaques reflètent le ciel bleu.

The puddles reflect the blue sky.

Plural subject and verb.

Après l'orage, les rues étaient parsemées de flaques miroitantes.

After the storm, the streets were dotted with shimmering puddles.

Passive construction 'étaient parsemées'.

J'ai failli glisser sur une flaque de savon.

I almost slipped on a puddle of soap.

Expression 'faillir' + infinitive.

En roulant dans la flaque, la voiture a éclaboussé mon manteau.

By driving through the puddle, the car splashed my coat.

Gérondif 'en roulant'.

Il regardait fixement la flaque comme s'il y cherchait une réponse.

He stared at the puddle as if he were looking for an answer there.

Hypothetical 'comme si' + imperfect.

La flaque d'essence irisait sous le soleil de midi.

The puddle of gasoline was iridescent under the midday sun.

Descriptive imperfect tense.

Toute cette pluie a fini par créer une véritable flaque au milieu du salon.

All this rain ended up creating a real puddle in the middle of the living room.

Expression 'finir par'.

Les oiseaux venaient s'abreuver dans les flaques du jardin.

The birds came to drink from the puddles in the garden.

Infinitive of purpose.

Fais attention, cette flaque est plus profonde qu'elle n'en a l'air.

Be careful, this puddle is deeper than it looks.

Comparative with 'ne' explétif.

Une flaque de lumière tombait du plafond, éclairant la poussière ambiante.

A pool of light fell from the ceiling, illuminating the ambient dust.

Metaphorical use of 'flaque'.

L'enquêteur analysait la flaque de sang pour déterminer la trajectoire du coup.

The investigator analyzed the pool of blood to determine the trajectory of the blow.

Formal/Technical register.

Malgré ses efforts, il n'a pu éviter de marcher en plein dans la flaque.

Despite his efforts, he couldn't help walking right into the puddle.

Expression 'en plein dans'.

Le bitume déformé retenait l'eau en de multiples flaques stagnantes.

The deformed asphalt held water in multiple stagnant puddles.

Precise adjective 'stagnantes'.

Elle contemplait son visage déformé par les ondulations de la flaque.

She contemplated her face distorted by the ripples of the puddle.

Past participle as adjective 'déformé'.

Une flaque d'huile sur la chaussée peut s'avérer extrêmement dangereuse pour les motards.

An oil slick on the road can prove extremely dangerous for motorcyclists.

Verb 's'avérer' (to prove to be).

Les flaques s'évaporaient lentement sous la chaleur accablante de l'après-midi.

The puddles were slowly evaporating under the overwhelming afternoon heat.

Pronominal verb 's'évaporer'.

Le sol de l'usine était maculé de flaques de produits chimiques.

The factory floor was stained with puddles of chemicals.

Strong verb 'maculer' (to stain/smear).

Le poète voyait dans chaque flaque un univers miniature prêt à être exploré.

The poet saw in every puddle a miniature universe ready to be explored.

Literary theme.

L'eau s'accumulait dans les creux du sentier, formant des flaques aux reflets d'argent.

Water accumulated in the hollows of the path, forming puddles with silver reflections.

Prepositional phrase 'aux reflets de'.

Il est déplorable que des flaques de pollution jonchent encore nos réserves naturelles.

It is deplorable that patches of pollution still litter our nature reserves.

Subjunctive mood after 'il est déplorable que'.

Sa mémoire n'était plus qu'une flaque trouble où surnageaient quelques souvenirs épars.

His memory was nothing more than a murky pool where a few scattered memories floated.

Metaphor with 'ne... que' restriction.

L'éclat des enseignes lumineuses se dissolvait dans les flaques sombres de la ruelle.

The glare of the neon signs dissolved into the dark puddles of the alley.

Action verb 'se dissoudre'.

Chaque flaque devenait un obstacle infranchissable pour la vieille dame aux jambes fragiles.

Each puddle became an insurmountable obstacle for the old lady with fragile legs.

Hyperbolic description.

Le drainage insuffisant de la place entraînait la formation de flaques persistantes.

The insufficient drainage of the square led to the formation of persistent puddles.

Noun-heavy formal style.

Le peintre s'attachait à rendre la texture visqueuse de cette flaque de peinture renversée.

The painter strove to render the viscous texture of that spilled puddle of paint.

Verb 's'attacher à' (to strive to).

La flaque, tel un miroir d'obsidienne, capturait l'essence même de la désolation urbaine.

The puddle, like an obsidian mirror, captured the very essence of urban desolation.

Simile with 'tel'.

Sous l'effet de la diffraction, la flaque d'hydrocarbures déployait un spectre de couleurs hallucinant.

Under the effect of diffraction, the hydrocarbon puddle deployed a mind-boggling spectrum of colors.

Technical vocabulary (diffraction, hydrocarbures).

L'existence n'est parfois qu'une succession de flaques où l'on risque de se noyer par inadvertance.

Existence is sometimes but a succession of puddles where one risks drowning by inadvertence.

Philosophical aphorism.

Le romancier utilisait la flaque comme un leitmotiv pour souligner l'humidité morale de ses personnages.

The novelist used the puddle as a leitmotif to emphasize the moral dampness of his characters.

Literary analysis terminology.

La réverbération du couchant dans les flaques résiduelles conférait à la lande une aura mystique.

The reverberation of the sunset in the residual puddles gave the moor a mystical aura.

Complex subject-verb-object structure.

Nul ne saurait dire si cette flaque était le fruit du hasard ou d'une intention malveillante.

No one could say whether this puddle was the result of chance or malevolent intent.

Literary 'nul ne saurait' (no one could).

Les flaques, stigmates d'un déluge récent, s'étiraient à perte de vue sur la piste d'atterrissage.

The puddles, stigmas of a recent deluge, stretched as far as the eye could see on the runway.

Apposition 'stigmates d'un déluge'.

L'architecture du bâtiment semblait se liquéfier dans les flaques qui bordaient l'édifice.

The building's architecture seemed to liquefy in the puddles bordering the edifice.

Abstract verbal expression 'se liquéfier'.

よく使う組み合わせ

flaque d'eau

flaque de sang

flaque d'huile

flaque de boue

flaque de lumière

grande flaque

petite flaque

éviter les flaques

sauter dans une flaque

flaque stagnante

よく使うフレーズ

Une flaque d'eau

— A puddle of water. This is the most standard way to use the word.

Attention à la flaque d'eau !

Sauter dans les flaques

— To jump in puddles. A classic childhood activity.

Les enfants s'amusent à sauter dans les flaques.

Une flaque d'huile

— An oil puddle/slick. Often used in car maintenance.

Il y a une flaque d'huile dans le garage.

Éviter les flaques

— To avoid puddles. What adults do when it rains.

Il marche bizarrement pour éviter les flaques.

Marcher dans une flaque

— To walk into a puddle. Usually accidental.

Zut, j'ai marché dans une flaque !

Une flaque de sang

— A pool of blood. Common in news or mystery books.

La police a trouvé une flaque de sang.

Une flaque de boue

— A mud puddle. Common in rural areas.

Ses bottes sont pleines de boue à cause de cette flaque.

Des flaques partout

— Puddles everywhere. Describes a very wet ground.

Après l'orage, il y avait des flaques partout.

Se refléter dans une flaque

— To be reflected in a puddle. A descriptive action.

La lune se reflète dans la flaque.

Une flaque de lait

— A puddle of milk. Used for kitchen spills.

Le chat lèche la flaque de lait sur le carrelage.

よく混同される語

flaque vs flocon

Flocon means snowflake. They both start with 'fl' and relate to weather, but a flaque is liquid.

flaque vs flaque vs mare

A flaque is a temporary puddle; a mare is a permanent small pond.

flaque vs flaque vs lac

A lac is a large lake; a flaque is just a tiny puddle.

慣用句と表現

"Sauter dans la flaque"

— While not a deep idiom, it suggests acting like a child or being messy.

Il a encore sauté dans la flaque, au sens figuré.

informal

"Finir en flaque"

— To collapse or melt into a heap (often from heat or exhaustion).

Avec cette chaleur, je vais finir en flaque.

informal

"Une flaque de vin"

— Often used to describe a messy spill that ruins a carpet or reputation.

L'accident a laissé une flaque de vin sur le tapis blanc.

neutral

"Ressembler à une flaque"

— To look limp, shapeless, or lacking energy.

Après son marathon, il ressemblait à une flaque.

informal

"Patauger dans la flaque"

— To flounder or be stuck in a messy situation.

Il patauge dans ses explications comme dans une flaque.

figurative

"Une flaque de lumière"

— A poetic way to describe a patch of sunlight.

Une flaque de lumière illuminait le vieux plancher.

literary

"Faire une flaque"

— To make a mess or to urinate (often said of pets).

Le chiot a fait une flaque dans le couloir.

informal

"Boire dans la flaque"

— To be desperate or to have very low standards.

Il est prêt à boire dans la flaque pour réussir.

metaphorical

"Une flaque de silence"

— A sudden, heavy moment of quiet in a noisy place.

Une flaque de silence s'installa dans la salle.

literary

"Vivre dans une flaque"

— To live in a very small, restricted, or damp environment.

Il vit dans une flaque de studio sous les toits.

informal/ironic

間違えやすい

flaque vs Mare

Both refer to standing water.

Mare is larger, deeper, and usually permanent with plants/animals. Flaque is small, shallow, and temporary.

On a trouvé des grenouilles dans la mare, pas dans la flaque.

flaque vs Étang

Both are bodies of water.

An étang is a pond/small lake, much bigger than a flaque.

L'étang est assez grand pour un bateau.

flaque vs Goutte

Both are small amounts of water.

Goutte is a single drop. Flaque is a pool of many drops.

Une goutte est tombée, puis une flaque s'est formée.

flaque vs Vague

Both involve water movement.

Vague is a wave in the ocean. Flaque is still water on the ground.

La vague arrive sur la plage, la flaque reste sur le trottoir.

flaque vs Ruisseau

Both are small water features.

Ruisseau is a flowing stream. Flaque is stagnant water.

Le ruisseau coule vers la rivière, mais la flaque ne bouge pas.

文型パターン

C'est une [adjective] flaque.

C'est une petite flaque.

Il y a une flaque de [liquid].

Il y a une flaque d'huile.

Ne marche pas dans la flaque !

Attention, ne marche pas dans la flaque !

Le [subject] se reflète dans la flaque.

Le soleil se reflète dans la flaque.

J'ai [verb] dans une flaque.

J'ai sauté dans une flaque.

Une flaque de [abstract noun].

Une flaque de lumière.

Le sol était jonché de flaques de [noun].

Le sol était jonché de flaques de boue.

La flaque agissait comme un [metaphor].

La flaque agissait comme un miroir de l'âme.

語族

名詞

flaqué (rare/dialectal)

flaquage (rare)

動詞

flaquer (informal - to splash or to fall flat)

形容詞

flaqueux (rare - marshy/puddly)

使い方

frequency

Highly frequent in daily speech and literature.

よくある間違い

Un flaque → Une flaque
Flaque is feminine. This is the most common error for English speakers.
Flaque d'eau de pluie → Flaque d'eau
While not 'wrong', 'flaque d'eau' already implies it's from rain. Adding 'de pluie' is often redundant.
Sauter sur la flaque → Sauter dans la flaque
You jump 'into' (dans) the puddle, not 'on' (sur) it, because you enter the water.
Le flaque d'huile → La flaque d'huile
Even when the content (huile) is masculine-sounding, the container (flaque) remains feminine.
Pronouncing the 'u' in flaque → Silent 'u'
The 'u' after 'q' is always silent in this context. It's /flak/, not /flawk/.

ヒント

Gender Memory

Always pair 'flaque' with 'la'. Imagine a lady (la) jumping into a puddle (flaque). This visual will help you remember it's feminine.

The Silent E

Don't pronounce the 'e' at the end. It should end abruptly on the 'k' sound. Practice: Fla-K.

Content Preposition

Always use 'de' to describe what's in the puddle. 'Flaque de [liquid]'. Never use 'avec' or 'en'.

Walking and Driving

When walking, you 'évitez' (avoid) the flaque. When driving, you 'roulez dans' (drive in) the flaque. Use these specific verbs.

Poetic Light

Use 'flaque de lumière' in your writing to describe sunlight. It immediately makes your French sound more sophisticated and descriptive.

Swiss Variation

If you are in Geneva, don't be surprised to hear 'gouille'. It's exactly the same thing as a 'flaque'.

The QU rule

Remember that in French, the 'k' sound in the middle or end of words is often spelled 'qu'. Flaque, banque, chaque. They all follow this pattern.

Listen for the Splash

In movies, the word 'flaque' is often accompanied by the actual sound of water. Use sensory cues to help identify the word.

Warnings

If you hear 'Attention, flaque !', stop walking immediately. It usually means there is a spill that could make you slip.

Bottes de pluie

Associate 'flaque' with 'bottes de pluie' (rain boots). You can't have a good time in a flaque without them!

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of the word 'FLAK'. When you jump in a puddle, you get 'FLAK' from your parents for getting wet! Or think of a 'FLAT' surface where water gathers.

視覚的連想

Imagine a bright yellow rain boot (botte) landing right in the middle of a 'flaque' with a loud 'SPLASH'!

Word Web

eau pluie trottor bottes sauter mouillé boue réflexion

チャレンジ

Try to spot five 'flaques' the next time it rains and say 'Regarde la flaque' each time.

語源

The word 'flaque' entered the French language around the 15th century. It is of Germanic origin, specifically coming from the Middle Low German word 'placke'.

元の意味： The original Germanic root referred to a 'patch', 'spot', or 'piece of ground'.

Germanic -> Old French -> Middle French -> Modern French.

文化的な背景

No specific sensitivities, though in a medical context, 'flaque de sang' can be graphic.

English speakers often use 'puddle' for everything. French speakers are more likely to distinguish between a 'flaque' (accidental/temporary) and a 'mare' (natural/pond).

Le Petit Gibus in 'La Guerre des boutons' Famous puddle reflection photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson Songs by Jacques Brel mentioning rain and damp streets

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Weather

Il y a des flaques.
La pluie a laissé des flaques.
Le sol est plein de flaques.
Flaque d'eau de pluie.

Childhood

Sauter dans les flaques.
Mettre ses bottes.
Se mouiller les pieds.
Jouer dehors.

Car Maintenance

Flaque d'huile.
Fuite de liquide.
Sous le moteur.
Vérifier le garage.

Cleaning

Essuyer la flaque.
Passer la serpillière.
Liquide renversé.
Faire attention à ne pas glisser.

Literature/Art

Reflet dans la flaque.
Flaque de lumière.
Atmosphère pluvieuse.
Miroir d'eau.

会話のきっかけ

"As-tu déjà sauté dans une flaque d'eau quand tu étais enfant ?"

"Fais-tu attention aux flaques quand tu marches dans la rue ?"

"Qu'est-ce que tu fais si tu vois une flaque d'huile sous ta voiture ?"

"Aimes-tu l'odeur de la pluie et la vue des flaques sur le trottoir ?"

"Est-ce qu'il y a souvent des flaques d'eau dans ta ville après l'orage ?"

日記のテーマ

Décris une scène après un gros orage en utilisant le mot 'flaque' au moins trois fois.

Imagine que tu es un enfant qui voit la plus grande flaque du monde. Que fais-tu ?

Écris sur un souvenir où tu as marché accidentellement dans une flaque profonde.

Utilise 'flaque de lumière' pour décrire une pièce calme le matin.

Pourquoi les flaques d'eau sont-elles parfois comme des miroirs ?

よくある質問

10 問

It is feminine: une flaque, la flaque. This is a common point of confusion for learners, so try to associate it with 'la pluie' (the rain), which is also feminine.

Yes, if the spill is large enough to form a pool. If it's just a few drops, 'quelques gouttes' is better. For a coffee spill on a desk, 'une flaque de café' is perfectly fine.

'Flaque' is the standard French word used everywhere. 'Gouille' is a regional term used mainly in Switzerland and parts of the French Alps. If you use 'flaque' in Switzerland, everyone will understand you, but 'gouille' is more local.

The pronunciation is identical to the singular 'flaque' (/flak/). The 's' at the end is silent. You only know it's plural from the article (les, des) or the context.

Yes, 'une flaque de lumière' is a common literary expression to describe a patch of sunlight on a floor or wall. It sounds very poetic.

There isn't a common single verb like 'to puddle'. You would say 'former une flaque' (to form a puddle) or 'faire une flaque' (to make a puddle).

It means 'to jump in puddles'. It's a very common phrase used when talking about children playing in the rain.

No, 'flaque' implies something small. For a flood, you must use 'inondation' or say 'le terrain est submergé'.

Yes, in mechanics (flaque d'huile) or forensics (flaque de sang), it is the technical term used in reports.

Because it's a common concrete noun that you encounter as soon as you start talking about the weather, daily life, or simple stories, but it's not as basic as 'eau' or 'soleil'.

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