rivière

Rivière is the French word for a river, the natural watercourse that generally flows toward a larger body of water such as another river, a lake, or the sea. In hydrology, rivers are characterized by their persistent flow, channel shape, drainage basin, and seasonal variations, and they support diverse ecosystems while providing water for agriculture, industry, and urban use. Rivers also shape landscapes through erosion, sediment transport, and deposition.

As a place-name element, rivieres are common in Francophone regions. In Canada, France, and Louisiana, the word appears in many toponyms and evokes the proximity of a watercourse. Examples include Rivière-du-Loup, a city in Quebec, and Rivière-des-Prairies, a borough of Montreal. The prefix or suffix Rivière often accompanies other geographic descriptors, reflecting local features such as Saint-Charles, Rouge, or other river names. The toponym can indicate historical or geographical associations with a river near or within the settlement.

Rivière is also a surname in French-speaking communities. Spelling may include or omit the accent in non-Francophone contexts. Individuals bearing the name have contributed to various fields, reflecting the common practice of deriving surnames from natural features.

In broader English-language usage, the term is translated as River, but Rivière retains its linguistic and cultural identity in French texts.