Provençal

[ proh-vuhn-sahl, prov-uhn-; French praw-vahn-sal ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Provence, its people, or their language.

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Provence.
2. Also called Occitan. a Romance language once widely spoken in southern France, still in use in some rural areas. : Pr, Pr., Prov. Compare langue d'oc.
3. the dialect of Provençal used in Provence.

Provençal

/ prɔvɑ̃sal; ˌprɒvɒnˈsɑːl /

adjective

1. relating to, denoting, or characteristic of Provence, its inhabitants, their dialect of French, or their Romance language

noun

1. a language of Provence, closely related to Catalan, French, and Italian, belonging to the Romance group of the Indo-European family. It was important in the Middle Ages as a literary language, and attempts have been made since the 19th century to revive its literary status See also langue d'oc
2. a native or inhabitant of Provence

Word History and Origins

Origin of Provençal¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French, from Latin prōvinciālis provincial; Provence, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Count on bold flavors, as on one night’s Provençal, a special trumpeting capers, olives, juicy sungold tomatoes and salami slices practically thin enough to read through.

From Washington Post

While the humans are entertaining enough in this Provencal matinee, the bird is the star.

From The Daily Beast

Castagnould was a Provencal and an old servant of the Mignon family.

From Project Gutenberg

While thus the interview is going on between Dalibard and the conspirator, we must bestow a glance upon the Provencal's home.

From Project Gutenberg

Hubert bent the knee to the new lord, with all that grace which he inherited from his Provencal blood.

From Project Gutenberg

In a no less expressive fashion, the Provencal peasant calls it lou portofais, lou porto-caneu.

From Project Gutenberg

He eats the same food as his two servants, a Provencal lad and the old woman who used to wait on his wife.

From Project Gutenberg