Prévale

Prévale is a toponym used in Francophone regions and occasionally a surname. The term derives from pré, meaning meadow, and vale, a historical or regional word for valley, typically signaling a landscape feature that features pastureland within a valley.

Geography and distribution: Places named Prévale are typically small rural settlements or hamlets situated in or near a valley with pastureland. The form is characteristic of toponyms that describe local geography rather than commemorating people or events.

History: The component elements pré and vale appear in various medieval and early modern records in French-speaking territories, and Prévale-type names often emerged as communities settled around farmland and natural routes.

Usage: In modern times, Prévale is primarily encountered in toponymy and on family names. There are no widely recognized urban centers with this name, and some instances may appear as part of longer place names.

Notable examples and variations: The spelling and capitalization of Prévale can vary by language region, and related forms such as Préval, Prévaile, or Prévalle may exist in local toponymic traditions.

See also: Pré, Vale, toponymy, list of French toponyms.