Is Courbevoie a city or a town?

Courbevoie is officially a commune, which is the smallest administrative division in France, similar to a municipality or township.

Do I need to translate 'Courbevoie' when writing in English?

No. Like most place names (Paris, London), it is not translated and is used in its original French form.

Why is Courbevoie mentioned in business news?

It is often mentioned because a large portion of the La Défense business district, one of Europe's largest purpose-built business centres, lies within its territory, hosting many corporate HQs.

How is Courbevoie pronounced in English?

The closest anglicised pronunciation is /ˌkʊərbəˈvwɑː/, trying to approximate the French sound while following English phonotactics.

Is “courbevoie” formal?

Courbevoie is usually formal / geographical in register.

courbevoie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (Geographically specific proper noun)

UK/ˌkʊəbəˈvwɑː/US/ˌkʊrbəˈvwɑː/

Formal / Geographical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “courbevoie” mean?

A commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France.

Commonly used to refer to the La Défense business district, which is partially located within its territory. May serve as a metonym for major French corporate headquarters.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in usage. Recognized by informed speakers familiar with French geography or global business locations.

Connotations

For business/finance contexts, it connotes the French corporate sector (similar to 'the City' for London).

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in general English. Slightly higher in business, finance, or European news contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “courbevoie” in a Sentence

[BE] located in Courbevoie[HAVE] headquarters in Courbevoie[TRAVEL] to Courbevoie

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

La Défensesuburbs of Parisbusiness district

medium

commune oflocated inheadquarters in

weak

travel tooffice inmap of

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Refers to a major hub for corporate headquarters (e.g., 'The company is based in Courbevoie.').

Academic

Used in geographical, urban studies, or economic texts about the Paris metropolitan area.

Everyday

Rare. Used only when discussing specific travel plans or locations in France.

Technical

Used in precise geographical descriptions or legal documents pertaining to the location.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “courbevoie”

Neutral

Paris suburbLa Défense (partial)

Weak

the northwestern suburbs

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “courbevoie”

Mispronouncing as /kɔːrˈbeɪvɔɪ/.
Treating it as a common noun and attempting to pluralise it.
Confusing it with other Parisian suburbs like Neuilly or Levallois.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Courbevoie is officially a commune, which is the smallest administrative division in France, similar to a municipality or township.
: No. Like most place names (Paris, London), it is not translated and is used in its original French form.
: It is often mentioned because a large portion of the La Défense business district, one of Europe's largest purpose-built business centres, lies within its territory, hosting many corporate HQs.
: The closest anglicised pronunciation is /ˌkʊərbəˈvwɑː/, trying to approximate the French sound while following English phonotactics.
: A commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France.
: Courbevoie is usually formal / geographical in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'COURt' is in a 'Bend' (Courbe = curve in French) near 'VOIE' (way/road) – a curved road in the Parisian suburbs.

Conceptual Metaphor

LOCATION AS COMMERCIAL POWER (e.g., 'Courbevoie is the engine of the French economy.').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Many global banks have their French headquarters in the business district of near Paris.

Multiple Choice

What is Courbevoie best known for in a business context?