French Word · Intermediate
patelin
backwater, one-horse town
Pronunciation: /pat.lɛ̃/
Meaning
backwater, one-horse town
Example
Ils commencent l'usine après le collège pis ils restent dans le village toute leur vie ou alors ils s'installent dans un patelin mais pas trop loin.
They start working in the factory after secondary school, then they stay in the village their whole life, or else they move to some backwater, but not too far away.
Practice tips
- Practice patelin out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this French word is for intermediate-level learners.