Meaning & use
Loire
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Meanings
proper nounproper
The longest river in France, flowing west from the center of the country to the Atlantic Ocean.
Grammar: Used with the: we sailed along the Loire.
Patterns
- along the Loire
- the Loire Valley
The Loire runs for more than a thousand kilometers before it reaches the sea.
We cycled along the Loire and stopped at a different castle each day.
Floods on the Loire damaged several riverside villages.
proper nounproper
A region of western France around the middle and lower river, known for its castles, gardens and wines.
Grammar: Usually appears as the Loire Valley: the Loire Valley is famous for white wines.
Patterns
- the Loire Valley
- a wine from the Loire
Many visitors tour the castles of the Loire in summer.
This crisp white wine comes from the Loire.
The Loire is also known for its fresh goat's cheese.
Common combinations
- the Loire Valley
- The Loire Valley is full of historic castles.
- along the Loire
- There is a long cycling path along the Loire.
- Loire wine
- A cold glass of Loire wine goes well with fish.
- Loire castle
- We toured a Loire castle built in the sixteenth century.
- banks of the Loire
- Vineyards cover the banks of the Loire.
Word family
- Loire Valley proper noun
- the area around the river
- Loire-Atlantique proper noun
- a French department at the river's mouth
Commonly confused: Loire or Seine?
Loire vs Seine
The Seine is another French river, flowing through Paris, while the Loire runs through the Loire Valley and cities like Nantes and Orléans.
Practice
How is Loire normally pronounced in English?
Choose one answer.
Loire is a French name pronounced lwar. The final e is silent, so the other options are wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Loire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.