This is the 5702nd most frequent French word.
centreville
"Centreville" means "downtown" or "town center" in English.
Here, 'centre-ville' is used as a location, indicating the downtown area, which is typically a central part of a city.
Je vais au centre-ville pour faire du shopping.
I am going downtown to shop.
In this case, 'centre-ville' refers to downtown as a general area that has specific characteristics, such as being lively during certain times.
Le centre-ville est toujours animé le soir.
Downtown is always lively during the evening.
Here, 'centre-ville' describes a specific type of downtown; namely, an area with historical significance or context.