colonie

colony

noun koh-loh-NEE Rare

Also means

camp

Usage Note

Colonie refers to a political colony or a biological colony (of ants, bacteria). Une colonie de vacances is the standard French term for a children's summer camp — often abbreviated colo in casual speech. The historical weight of colonie in a political sense is always present in formal discourse.

Examples

"Les enfants partent en colonie cet été."

Natural Translation

The children are going to summer camp this summer.

Literal Translation

The children are leaving for a colony this summer.

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