oasis

noun oh-ah-ZEESS Rare

Origin: From Greek oasis, from Egyptian.

Also means

refuge

Usage Note

Oasis is feminine in French despite ending in a consonant sound (une oasis), which surprises many learners. It is used both literally (a fertile spot in a desert) and figuratively for any welcome place of calm: une oasis de paix ('an oasis of peace'). The plural is identical: des oasis.

Examples

"Cette ville est une oasis dans le désert."

Natural Translation

This town is an oasis in the desert.

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