pluie/plɥi/
noun · A2 · Frequency 1772
nounfeminine
Meanings
rain
Refers to water droplets falling from clouds in nature, the common meaning.
a large quantity of things, especially a heavy fall of objects or events
Used mostly in informal speech to describe a large quantity, e.g. 'une pluie de coups' (a shower of blows).
Examples
La pluie a commencé juste avant notre départ.
The rain started just before we left.
Après la pluie, les enfants ont sauté dans les flaques.
After the rain, the children jumped in the puddles.
Le candidat a subi une pluie de questions pendant l entretien.
The candidate faced a barrage of questions during the interview.
Collocations
- une pluie battantedriving rain
- une pluie de critiquesa barrage of criticism
Common mistakes
Il pluie beaucoup aujourd'hui.
Il pleut beaucoup aujourd'hui.
pluie is the noun “rain” and cannot be used directly as a verb like English rain; use the verb form pleut from pleuvoir to say that it is raining.
Related words
nounfeminine
Meanings
rain
Refers to water droplets falling from clouds in nature, the common meaning.
a large quantity of things, especially a heavy fall of objects or events
Used mostly in informal speech to describe a large quantity, e.g. 'une pluie de coups' (a shower of blows).
Examples
Les pluies de printemps ont rempli les réservoirs.
The spring rains filled the reservoirs.
Après plusieurs jours de pluies, le sentier est devenu impraticable.
After several days of rain, the path became impassable.
Les pluies de confettis ont surpris les passants.
The showers of confetti surprised the passers-by.