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province

province

noun pro-VAHNS Less Common

Origin: Latin provincia

Usage Note

Province in French often carries a cultural connotation of anywhere outside Paris, and en province simply means 'outside the capital'. The expression venir de province can imply a rustic or non-Parisian background. The plural les provinces still names the old historical regions like Brittany or Provence.

Examples

"Elle a grandi en province, loin de Paris."

Natural Translation

She grew up in the provinces, far from Paris.

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