What does chemin in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word chemin in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use chemin in French.

The word chemin in French means path, way, way, long way, path, path, midway between and , halfway between and, halfway through , partway through, halfway between and , midway between and, midway, halfway, halfway through, partway through, midway between and , halfway between and, go merrily along, go on your own sweet way, go on your merry way, after all, highwayman, marked path, passable track, passable path, public road, public lane, sunken road, green lane, rutted track, critical path, access road, path, file path, cable tray, countryside track, countryside path, back road, Camino de Santiago, Way of the Cross, Stations of the Cross, Way of the Cross, arduous journey, road to Damascus, see the light, come around, service road, railway, flat plan, baccarat chemin de fer, baccara chemin de fer, rack railway, cog railway, rack-and-pinion railway, parapet walk, rampart walk, towpath, mule track, hiking trail, hiking track, walking trail, wall walk, rampart walk, Camino de Santiago, Way of Saint James, table runner, dirt road, dirt track, side road, the road less travelled, highways and byways, the scenic route, the long way round, roundabout way, roundabout route, on the way, forest path, optical path, byway, look for the way, continue on your way, come across , bump into, right track, straight and narrow, on the road, head there, be heading that way, be on your way, be on the way, go a long way, gain ground, go part of the way with , walk part of the way with, spend a bit of time with, have a good run together, I know the way, the idea has caught on, the idea has gained ground, the idea has made headway, railway line, look how far has come, come a long way, On your way!, go on your way, railway bridge, follow your path, take the road, take the road for, head for, take the scenic route, go the long way round, keep on the right track, keep on the straight and narrow, retrace your steps, put back on the right track, get back on the right track, stay on the right track, stay on the straight and narrow, come to your senses, be in your right mind again, find your way again, stray from the straight and narrow, make your way through, take the wrong path, on the way to, make your own way, have a Damascene conversion, Don't stop now, you're doing so well!, railroad line. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word chemin

path

nom masculin (voie de terre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce petit chemin mène au village.
This little path leads to the village.

way

nom masculin (direction à prendre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je suis perdue, je vais demander mon chemin.
I'm lost. I'm going to ask the way.

way

nom masculin (itinéraire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je lui porterai son pain, c'est sur mon chemin.
I'll take him his bread; it's on my way.

long way

nom masculin (figuré (évolution) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Internet ! Quel chemin parcouru en si peu de temps.
The internet! What a long way we've come in such a short time.

path

nom masculin (piste qu'on trace)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Avec une machette le guide ouvre un chemin.
With a machete, the guide opens up a path.

path

nom masculin (informatique : emplacement de stockage) (computing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le système ne trouve pas ton fichier car le chemin que tu as donné est erroné.

midway between and , halfway between and

(vers le milieu) (distance)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Nous habitons à mi-chemin entre Paris et Marseille.
We live midway between Paris and Marseille.

halfway through , partway through

(à une étape intermédiaire) (progress)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il est à mi-chemin de ses études.

halfway between and , midway between and

(entre deux choses)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
C'est à mi-chemin entre la gymnastique et la danse.
It's a cross between gymnastics and dance.

midway, halfway

locution adverbiale (vers le milieu) (location)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
J'ai voulu aller au parc à pied mais à mi-chemin, j'ai dû m'arrêter pour reprendre mon souffle. Ma sœur habite à Marseille et moi à Nice : nous nous retrouverons à mi-chemin pour déjeuner ensemble.
I wanted to walk to the park, but I had to stop midway to catch my breath. My sister lives in Marseille and I live in Nice; we're going to meet halfway to have lunch together.

halfway through, partway through

locution adverbiale (à une étape intermédiaire) (progress)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il avait déjà bien entamé ses études d'avocat mais à mi-chemin, il a abandonné.
He had already made a good start on his law course, but then he quit halfway through.

midway between and , halfway between and

locution adverbiale (qui mêle deux caractéristiques)

go merrily along, go on your own sweet way

locution verbale (avancer sereinement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tout va bien pour Luce, elle va son bonhomme de chemin.

go on your merry way

locution verbale (vivre sa vie sereinement)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

after all

(figuré (à la fin)

Continue à travailler, il y a un contrat au bout du chemin !

highwayman

nom masculin (voleur qui attaque les voyageurs) (historical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

marked path

nom masculin (itinéraire fléché)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

passable track, passable path

nom masculin (chemin utilisable par un véhicule)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public road, public lane

nom masculin (chemin entretenu par la commune)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sunken road, green lane, rutted track

nom masculin (chemin de service entre 2 talus)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

critical path

nom masculin (liste d'opérations à suivre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

access road

nom masculin (chemin pour accéder à un lieu)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce chemin d'accès est réservé aux riverains.

path, file path

nom masculin (informatique : position dans une arborescence) (computing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin d'accès décrit la position d'un fichier dans le système de fichiers.

cable tray

nom masculin (gaine pour câbles)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

countryside track, countryside path

nom masculin (route non goudronnée) (untarmacked)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il vaut mieux avoir un véhicule tout terrain pour emprunter ce chemin de campagne.

back road

nom masculin (figuré (chemin de traverse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je n'hésite jamais à prendre les chemins de campagne.

Camino de Santiago

nom propre masculin (chemin de pèlerinage) (pilgrim trail)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de Compostelle est constitué de 4 itinéraires qui mènent à Saint-Jacques de Compostelle en Espagne.

Way of the Cross

nom masculin (parcours effectué par Jésus)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Stations of the Cross

nom masculin (tableaux des stations de la croix)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de croix de l'église Saint-Pierre a été rénové.

Way of the Cross

nom masculin (parcours religieux, rituel) (pilgrimage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de croix a dû être annulé à cause des mauvaises conditions sanitaires.
The Way of the Cross had to be cancelled due to poor sanitary conditions.

arduous journey

nom masculin (figuré (démarche difficile, galère) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Trouver une bonne auxiliaire de vie pour ma mère âgée a été un véritable chemin de croix.
Finding a good carer for my elderly mother has been a truly arduous task.

road to Damascus

nom masculin (Religion : conversion) (religion)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

see the light, come around

nom masculin (figuré (changement d'opinion) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

service road

nom masculin (voie communale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Un chemin de desserte est un petit chemin rural dans un village desservant un lieu public.

railway

nom masculin (moyen de transport ferré) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de fer est un moyen de transport très sûr.
The railway is a very safe method of transport.

flat plan

nom masculin (édition : représentation des pages) (publishing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de fer sert à savoir où placer les illustrations.
A flat plan is used to show where the illustrations should go.

baccarat chemin de fer, baccara chemin de fer

nom masculin (Cartes : variété de baccara) (card game)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Mon oncle jouait tous les dimanches au chemin de fer.

rack railway, cog railway, rack-and-pinion railway

nom masculin (type de remontée mécanique) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

parapet walk, rampart walk

nom masculin (ronde)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

towpath

nom masculin (chemin suivant une berge) (path by river)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

mule track

nom masculin (chemin escarpé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

hiking trail, hiking track, walking trail

nom masculin (chemin de marche à pied)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

wall walk, rampart walk

nom masculin (château : chemin de guet)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Camino de Santiago

nom propre masculin (chemin de pèlerinage) (pilgrim trail: Spanish)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de Saint-Jacques conduit les pèlerins au tombeau de l'apôtre Jacques à Compostelle, en Espagne.

Way of Saint James

nom masculin (itinéraire de pèlerinage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

table runner

nom masculin (décoration de table)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

dirt road, dirt track

nom masculin (chemin non goudronné)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

side road

nom masculin (passage direct entre 2 rues)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
À Lyon il y a beaucoup de chemins de traverse.

the road less travelled

nom masculin (figuré (chemin hors des sentiers battus) (UK, figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Olivier n'a pas l'instinct grégaire, il préfère les chemins de traverse.

highways and byways

nom masculin (figuré (itinéraire détourné)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Durant les vacances, j'aime bien utiliser les chemins de traverse.

the scenic route, the long way round

nom masculin (route avec détours) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

roundabout way, roundabout route

nom masculin (figuré (façon de faire indirecte) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

on the way

locution adverbiale (en cours de chemin)

forest path

nom masculin (route qui traverse la forêt)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les promeneurs ont emprunté le chemin forestier.

optical path

nom masculin (outil de l'optique géométrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

byway

nom masculin (petit chemin de village) (rural road)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Un chemin vicinal est un chemin public, souvent étroit, de desserte locale d'un village et non classé dans la voirie communale.

look for the way

locution verbale (chercher le chemin à suivre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

continue on your way

locution verbale (passer sans s'arrêter)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

come across , bump into

(rencontrer [qqn] de façon non prévue)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])

right track, straight and narrow

nom masculin (figuré (bonne morale) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est un adolescent que personne n'influence, il suit son droit chemin.

on the road

locution adverbiale (en cours de route)

head there

locution verbale (se diriger vers [qch])

Nous ne sommes pas encore partis pour Strasbourg, mais nous allons en prendre le chemin.

be heading that way

locution verbale (figuré (sembler devoir finir comme ça) (figurative, informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ce n'est pas encore une révolte, mais ça en prend le chemin.

be on your way, be on the way

locution verbale (être déjà parti pour quelque part)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

go a long way

locution verbale (évoluer, progresser)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
We've come a long way together.

gain ground

locution verbale (trouver sa place dans la société)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

go part of the way with , walk part of the way with

locution verbale (accompagner)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je peux faire un bout de chemin avec toi jusqu'à la gare si tu veux.

spend a bit of time with

locution verbale (figuré (vivre, être quelque temps avec [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
J'ai fait un bout de chemin avec Alain dans cette boîte.

have a good run together

locution verbale (figuré (vivre ensemble pendant longtemps) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Me grands-parents se sont connus à 20 ans, ils ont fait un bon bout de chemin ensemble.

I know the way

(je sais où aller)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Pas la peine de me raccompagner, je connais le chemin.
You don't need to come with me; I know the way.

the idea has caught on, the idea has gained ground, the idea has made headway

(cela finit par se concrétiser)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

railway line

nom féminin (ligne de train)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

look how far has come

locution verbale (faire un bilan)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Regarde cette usine, quand il a commencé ton grand-père n'avait pas terminé son école secondaire ; mesure le chemin parcouru !

come a long way

locution verbale (progresser) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Depuis ses débuts en tant que coursier, le PDG a parcouru du chemin !

On your way!

interjection (adresse-toi ailleurs)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

go on your way

locution verbale (aller voir ailleurs)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

railway bridge

nom masculin (pont pour trains) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Gustave Eiffel a construit beaucoup de ponts de chemin de fer.

follow your path

locution verbale (figuré (ne pas s'attarder sur [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take the road, take the road for

(se diriger dans une direction)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le témoin a déclaré que les fuyards avaient pris le chemin de la gare.

head for

(figuré (se transformer lentement en [qch]) (figurative, informal)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Si tu ne fais pas plus d'activité physique, tu vas prendre le chemin de l'accident cardiaque.

take the scenic route, go the long way round

locution verbale (suivre des détours)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

keep on the right track, keep on the straight and narrow

locution verbale (remettre [qqn] dans la légalité) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Comme éducateur, il ramène les ces gens sur le droit chemin.

retrace your steps

locution verbale (revenir sur ses pas)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Quand nous nous sommes rendu compte que la rue était une impasse, nous avons rebroussé chemin.

put back on the right track

locution verbale (figuré (ramener au respect de la loi) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Nous espérons que les conversations de Pierre avec son éducateur le remettront dans le droit chemin.

get back on the right track

locution verbale (revenir dans la légalité) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Elle est rentrée dans le droit chemin après sa sortie de prison.

stay on the right track, stay on the straight and narrow

locution verbale (ne pas sortir de la légalité) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il est resté sur le droit chemin toute sa vie.

come to your senses, be in your right mind again

locution verbale (cesser d'être irréaliste)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

find your way again

locution verbale (ne plus être perdu)

stray from the straight and narrow

locution verbale (figuré (s'égarer moralement) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Avec toutes ces mauvaises fréquentations, Paul s'est finalement écarté du droit chemin.
Paul ended up straying from the straight and narrow because he hung around with a bad crowd.

make your way through

(dégager son chemin vers un lieu)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take the wrong path

(prendre la mauvaise direction)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

on the way to

(en route vers, en allant quelque part)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Un jour, sur le chemin de l'école, j'ai trouvé un petit oiseau blessé et je l'ai ramené en classe.

make your own way

locution verbale (planifier son avenir)

have a Damascene conversion

locution verbale (se convertir à une croyance) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Don't stop now, you're doing so well!

(Continue !)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

railroad line

nom féminin (rails) (US)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette gare est saturée et il n'est pas possible d'ajouter de voies de chemins de fer.

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