vélo

bicycle, bike

noun veh-LO Less Common

Origin: abbreviation of vélocipède, from Latin velox (fast) + pes (foot)

Usage Note

vélo is the everyday word for a bicycle; the full form bicyclette is more formal. Faire du vélo means 'to go cycling'. Vélo de route is a road bike, vélo tout-terrain (VTT) is a mountain bike. The word is always masculine.

Examples

"Il va au travail à vélo chaque jour."

Natural Translation

He cycles to work every day.

Literal Translation

He goes to work by bike every day.

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