cotes-d'armor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Proper noun, specific geographical reference)Formal/Geographical
Quick answer
What does “cotes-d'armor” mean?
A department in the Brittany region of northwestern France, named after its coastal location ('Côtes' meaning 'coasts') and the river Armor.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A department in the Brittany region of northwestern France, named after its coastal location ('Côtes' meaning 'coasts') and the river Armor.
Refers to the administrative department, its inhabitants, its culture, and its geographical identity. Often associated with Breton heritage, coastline tourism, and Celtic traditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the French name. No significant difference in usage.
Connotations
For UK speakers, may evoke proximity and travel destination. For US speakers, may evoke a more distant, specific European location.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Slightly higher in UK English due to geographical proximity and travel writing.
Grammar
How to Use “cotes-d'armor” in a Sentence
[Location] is in Côtes-d'Armor.We travelled through Côtes-d'Armor.The coastline of Côtes-d'Armor is rugged.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cotes-d'armor” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We are holidaying in Côtes-d'Armor this summer.
American English
- They plan to tour Côtes-d'Armor next fall.
adjective
British English
- It's a classic Côtes-d'Armor landscape.
American English
- We sampled some Côtes-d'Armor cider.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tourism, real estate, or agricultural import/export contexts related to the region.
Academic
Used in geography, European studies, and Celtic history papers.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in travel planning or discussions about France.
Technical
Used in cartography, administrative geography, and demographic studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cotes-d'armor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cotes-d'armor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cotes-d'armor”
- Misspelling as 'Cote d'Armor' (missing 's'), 'Côtes d'Armor' (missing hyphen), or 'Cotes d'Armor' (missing circumflex).
- Using lowercase.
- Treating it as a common noun and attempting to pluralise or modify it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 'koht dar-mor'. The 's' in 'Côtes' is silent, and the 't' is softly pronounced.
No, it is a proper name and is not translated. It is used as-is in English texts.
It is known for its dramatic coastline (the 'Côte de Granit Rose'), Breton culture, and historic towns like Dinan and Saint-Malo (though Saint-Malo is just outside its border).
It is a French compound name. 'Côtes' means 'coasts', 'de' means 'of', and 'Armor' is a Breton name for the coastal region. The hyphen and apostrophe are standard in French toponymy.
A department in the Brittany region of northwestern France, named after its coastal location ('Côtes' meaning 'coasts') and the river Armor.
Cotes-d'armor is usually formal/geographical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None (proper noun)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COASTS-of-ARMOR' – a coast you need armor for because it's rugged and rocky.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GUARDIAN OF THE COAST (linking 'Armor' to armor/protection and 'Côtes' to coast).
Practice
Quiz
What is Côtes-d'Armor?