locomotive

noun lo-ko-mo-TEEV Rare

Origin: French, from Latin loco (from a place) + motivus (moving)

Usage Note

Locomotive is feminine in French, as is voiture (carriage). Colloquially it can describe any driving force or engine of growth — la locomotive de l'économie. The verb se loger is unrelated; compare locomotion (f) for the general concept of movement.

Examples

"La locomotive siffla en entrant en gare."

Natural Translation

The locomotive whistled as it entered the station.

Literal Translation

The locomotive whistled entering the station.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Ordering Food in French: Restaurant Phrases That Work

Order food in French with confidence: greet first, say je voudrais not je veux, ask for a carafe d'eau, answer quelle cuisson, and request the bill yourself.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

How to Pronounce the French R (Step by Step)

The French R is a back-of-the-throat sound, not a rolled R. Learn the exact tongue position and a step-by-step drill to build it from sounds you already make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Sorry in French: Désolé vs Pardon vs Excusez-moi

Use désolé for genuine regret, pardon to bump or squeeze past, and excusez-moi to get attention. A situation-by-situation guide to saying sorry in French.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Noun Gender: Rules to Guess Right 80%

Guess French noun gender right 80% of the time using word endings: -age, -ment, -eau are masculine; -tion, -té, -ette are feminine. A high-yield system.

June 3, 2026 5 min read