Lès
The word lès (French pronunciation: [lɛ] , and [lɛz‿] with liaison) is an archaic French preposition meaning "near", "next to".[1][2] Today it occurs only in place names to distinguish places with the same name.
The word lès has two variants: lez and les.[1] The latter should not be confused with the plural definite article les (e.g. les-Bains, "the Baths").
Etymology
[edit]The word lès and its variants derive from late Latin latus, "side".[1][2] The preposition is not used anymore in French, but remains still nowadays in other Langues d'oïl such as the Walloon language with dilé (close to) and adlé (among).
Examples
[edit]Lès
[edit]- Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, near Avignon
- Beaumont-lès-Valence, near Valence
- Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, near Chevreuse
- Margny-lès-Compiègne, near Compiègne
- Asnières-lès-Dijon, near Dijon
- Fontaine-lès-Dijon, near Dijon
- Hauteville-lès-Dijon, near Dijon
- Neuilly-lès-Dijon, near Dijon
- Perrigny-lès-Dijon, near Dijon
- Plombières-lès-Dijon, near Dijon
- Sennecey-lès-Dijon, near Dijon
- Garges-lès-Gonesse, near Gonesse
- Bonchamp-lès-Laval, near Laval
- Fontaine-lès-Luxeuil, near Luxeuil-les-Bains
- Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, near Lyon
- Montigny-lès-Metz, near Metz
- Saint-Julien-lès-Metz, near Metz
- Flines-lès-Mortagne, near Mortagne-du-Nord
- Essey-lès-Nancy, near Nancy
- Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, near Nancy
- Saulxures-lès-Nancy, near Nancy
- Villers-lès-Nancy, near Nancy
- Déville-lès-Rouen, near Rouen
- Sotteville-lès-Rouen, near Rouen
- Nieul-lès-Saintes, near Saintes
- Chambray-lès-Tours, near Tours
- Joué-lès-Tours, near Tours
- Saint-Martin-lès-Seyne, near Seyne
- Bourg-lès-Valence, near Valence
- Béning-lès-Saint-Avold, near Saint-Avold
- Savigny-lès-Beaune, near Beaune
- …
Lez
[edit]- Auchy-lez-Orchies, near Orchies
- Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes, near Valenciennes
- Bougy-lez-Neuville, near Neuville-aux-Bois
- Bruille-lez-Marchiennes, near Marchiennes
- Flines-lez-Raches, near Râches
- Hallennes-lez-Haubourdin, near Haubourdin
- Houdain-lez-Bavay, near Bavay
- Lambres-lez-Douai, near Douai
- Lys-lez-Lannoy, near Lannoy
- Marquette-lez-Lille, near Lille
- Mézières-lez-Cléry, near Cléry
- Nissan-lez-Enserune, near Enserune
- Poilly-lez-Gien, near Gien
- Sailly-lez-Cambrai, near Cambrai
- Sailly-lez-Lannoy, near Lannoy
- Saint-André-lez-Lille, near Lille
- Saint-Hilaire-lez-Cambrai, near Cambrai
- Tilloy-lez-Cambrai, near Cambrai
- Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes, near Marchiennes
- Villy-lez-Falaise, near Falaise
- …
Les
[edit]- Avesnes-les-Aubert, near Aubert
- Châteauneuf-les-Martigues, near Martigues
- Chorey-les-Beaune, near Beaune
- La Queue-les-Yvelines, near (the historical region of) Yvelines
- Villars-les-Dombes, near Dombes
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "LÈS : Définition de LÈS". www.cnrtl.fr. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ a b Larousse, Éditions. "Définitions : lès - Dictionnaire de français Larousse". www.larousse.fr (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-04.