Arable vs. cultivable
In French, the words 'arable' and 'cultivable' are often used to describe land suitable for farming, but they have nuanced differences. Below is a breakdown of these words, their meanings, and examples of usage.
Arable
The word 'arable' refers specifically to land that is under crop production or can be used to grow crops. It directly connects to agricultural productivity.
Cette parcelle est très arable, on y cultive du blé depuis des années.
(This plot of land is very arable; we have been growing wheat on it for years.)
Les terres arables sont essentielles pour la production alimentaire mondiale.
(Arable lands are essential for global food production.)
La superficie des terres arables diminue à cause de l'urbanisation.
(The area of arable land is decreasing due to urbanization.)
Cultivable
'Cultivable' is a broader term describing land that can potentially be farmed or is suitable for cultivation. It may not necessarily be under current cultivation but has the potential to be productive.
Nous devons défricher cette forêt pour la rendre cultivable.
(We need to clear this forest to make it cultivable.)
Ce terrain est rocailleux mais peut devenir cultivable après quelques années de travail agricole.
(This land is rocky but can become cultivable after a few years of agricultural work.)
La majorité des terres cultivables dans cette région est utilisée pour la culture du maïs.
(The majority of cultivable land in this region is used for growing corn.)
Summary
Both 'arable' and 'cultivable' refer to land suitable for farming, but 'arable' emphasizes current use in crop production, while 'cultivable' highlights potential suitability.