Published August 8, 2024 • Updated July 26, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Arrondissement — Meaning and Pronunciation
Arrondissement (m.) is a French noun meaning “district”, “city district” or “administrative district.” It is most commonly used for the numbered districts of Paris. For example, “J’habite dans le 5e arrondissement” (I live in the 5th arrondissement). The word can also refer to an administrative subdivision within a French département.
Pronunciation: /a.ʁɔ̃.dis.mɑ̃/, approximately “ah-rohn-dees-mahn.”
What are the arrondissements of Paris?
The arrondissements of Paris are the city’s 20 numbered administrative districts. They spiral outward clockwise from the center of Paris in a pattern often called an escargot, or snail shape. Each arrondissement has character. For example, the 1st arrondissement includes the Louvre, the 5th includes the Latin Quarter, the 7th includes the Eiffel Tower, and the 18th includes Montmartre.
Example Sentences
Paris est divisé en vingt arrondissements.
Paris is divided into 20 districts.
La tour Eiffel est située à Paris dans le septième arrondissement.
The Eiffel Tower is located in Paris in the 7th district.
Le musée du Louvre est situé dans le premier arrondissement de Paris.
The Louvre museum is located in the 1st district in Paris.
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- la rue — a street
- un quartier — a neighborhood
- un district — a district
- une commune — a municipality
- une mairie d’arrondissement — an arrondissement town hall
- un conseil d’arrondissement — an arrondissement council
- le centre de Paris — central Paris
- la banlieue parisienne — the Paris suburbs
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