Linguistic Insights & Cultural Trivia

'La fontaine' (/la fɔ̃.tɛn/) is a feminine noun from Latin 'fontana'. Paris boasts over 1,200 public fountains, including the iconic Wallace Fountains (les fontaines Wallace) erected in 1872 offering clean drinking water to all. The word also immediately honors Jean de La Fontaine, France's most revered 17th-century fabulist. The French proverb 'Il ne faut jamais dire : fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau' means never say never.

Daily Conversational Example

"L'eau claire jaillit de la fontaine sculptée."

— Clear water gushes from the sculpted fountain.

Other Vocabulary in this Scene (The Palace Garden & Balcony)

la rose /la ʁoz/ The Rose la fontaine /la fɔ̃.tɛn/ The Fountain le banc /lə bɑ̃/ The Bench l'arbre /laʁbʁ/ The Tree l'oiseau /lwa.zo/ The Bird

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the grammatical gender of "la fontaine"?
In French, "la fontaine" uses the article "la" which denotes a feminine noun. Remember to match associated adjectives accordingly!
How can I practice pronouncing "la fontaine" with the native rhythm?
Listen closely to the audio by clicking the "Listen" button in the interactive game above. Practice matching the phonetic transcription /la fɔ̃.tɛn/.