colonial
colonial
adjective koh-loh-NYAL Rare
Origin: Latin colonialis, from colonia (settlement)
Usage Note
Colonial describes anything relating to a colonial era or style — l'architecture coloniale, l'empire colonial français. The plural is coloniaux (m) / coloniales (f). It carries strong historical and political weight in French public discourse, particularly regarding France's overseas territories.
Examples
"L'histoire coloniale de la France est complexe."
Natural Translation
France's colonial history is complex.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
5 min read