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Lès

{{Short description|Archaic French preposition}}

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File:Flines-lès-Mortagne (Nord, Fr) city limit sign.JPG, near Mortagne-du-Nord]]

The word lès ({{IPA|fr|lɛ|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Le Commissaire-lès.wav}}, and {{IPA|fr|lɛz‿|}} with liaison) is an archaic French preposition meaning "near", "next to".{{Cite web |title=LÈS : Définition de LÈS |url=https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/l%C3%A8s |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=www.cnrtl.fr}}{{Cite web|last=Larousse|first=Éditions|title=Définitions : lès - Dictionnaire de français Larousse|url=https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/l%C3%A8s/46749|access-date=2021-04-04|website=www.larousse.fr|language=fr}} Today it occurs only in place names to distinguish places with the same name.

The word lès has two variants: lez and les. The latter should not be confused with the plural definite article les (e.g. les-Bains, "the Baths").

Etymology

The word lès and its variants derive from late Latin latus, "side".

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

= Lès =

= Lez =

= Les =

References

{{Reflist}}

Category:Toponymy