What does mistral mean?
A mistral is a cold, strong northwesterly wind that descends from the Alps and blows across southern France toward the western Mediterranean. It is particularly prominent in the Rhône valley, Provence, and the adjacent coast, where it can reach considerable speed and continue for days. The wind is strong enough to hinder sailing and aviation, strip vegetation, and chill exposed buildings. Although the name comes from French and the phenomenon is especially associated with the Mediterranean, the term is also encountered in English-language descriptions of the region. Rather than serving as a general term for cold wind, “mistral” identifies a distinct regional wind with characteristic direction and origins. Its familiarity outside southern France is limited, but it remains an important part of the region’s geography, traditional culture, and vocabulary.
nounA cold, strong northwesterly wind that blows from the Alps toward the western Mediterranean. It is especially associated with the Rhône valley and the coast of southern France.
- A cold, powerful northwesterly wind blowing from the Alps across southern France into the western Mediterranean.
"The ferry endured a fierce mistral as it crossed the Mediterranean."
"Strong mistrals forced the fishermen to remain in port."
"She could feel the mistral sharpening the air as it descended from the mountains."
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; the word usually appears in the singular.
"Several mistrals disrupted fishing operations along the coast."
The mistral is a famously fierce wind that can sweep across the Mediterranean with enough force to disrupt sailing, aviation, and daily life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mistral come from?
English borrowed the word from French, where mistral denotes the strong northwesterly wind of the Mediterranean. The French word derives from southern French or Occitan usage and ultimately from Latin mixtus, meaning “mixed,” traditionally associated with the wind’s changing directions. The term has been used in English since the 16th century, chiefly in geographical accounts of the western Mediterranean and southern France.
Related word forms
How mistral is actually used
The word is often capitalized when referring to the named regional wind. It denotes a particular wind rather than an ordinary breeze, and its use is largely restricted to the western Mediterranean, especially southern France.