Beautiful In French: Rules And Several Ways On How To Say It

Do you want to learn how to say beautiful in French in less than ten minutes?

The French language has various ways to describe someone or anything beautiful, whether it’s a person, a painting, or a landscape.

There are many ways to say “beautiful” in French but let’s start with the direct translation: belle. 

We will then move on to other expressions in French that can communicate our appreciation for stunning beauty.

Certain rules on using the French word for “beautiful” will be discussed, as well as synonyms, ways to say it to someone depending on the situations, and more examples to help us better understand the rules.

Beautiful In French: Rules And Several Ways On How To Say It

Read on and learn more about “Beautiful” in French. 

1. Beautiful in French

Belle/Beau – Beautiful 

Depending on who you’re talking to and what you’re talking about, the term ‘beautiful’ might be translated as belle or beau. 

French has gendered terms, just like Spanish. So, in French, “beautiful” refers to either a man or a woman (or a masculine/feminine word). To put it another way, magnifique (“magnificent”) is a word that means “beautiful” or “striking.”

2. Rules When Using “Beau/Belle” in French

Before you start using the words beau or belle to practice your French, here is an easy to follow guide with examples to help you understand each rule. 

When Besu/Beau Comes Before Adjectives With Vowels

In general, use beau when describing a man or a manly thing. Use the ‘bel’ instead of belle if the adjective comes before a noun that begins with a vowel or an unaspirated h.

For example: 

Bel ami – beautiful friend

Beau ciel – beautiful sky

Word Order When Saying/Writing “Beautiful” in French

Adjectives are usually used after a noun in French. However, the noun is preceded by a brief list of adjectives, one of which is beau/belle/bel. The French version of ‘beautiful’ usually comes before the noun you’re depicting as beautiful in most cases.

For example: 

Beau château– beautiful castle

belles images – beautiful images

Adjective and Gender When Using Beau/Belle 

The adjective “beautiful” can be applied to both objects and people. Objects in French can be either male or female. You must use the right gendered adjective when describing an inanimate thing.

For example: 

Une belle voiture – beautiful car

Beau pont – beautiful bridge

3. Other words for “Beautiful” in French

There are various ways to say “beautiful” in French, just as there are many ways to say “beautiful” in English. If you are learning French, you may use the following words to describe people, places, and things using the rules mentioned above. 

• attrayant (masculine adjective) – attractive

For example: 

Prince attrayant – attractive prince

• belle (feminine adjective) – beautiful

For example: 

Belle reine – beautiful queen 

• charmante (feminine adjective) – charming or lovely

For example: 

charmante ville – a charming city 

• éblouissante (feminine adjective) – dazzling

For example: 

sourire éblouissant – a dazzling smile

• étonnante (feminine adjective) – astonishing

For example: 

conception étonnante – astonishing design 

• jolie (feminine adjective) – pretty

For example: 

jolie robe – pretty dress

• magnifique (feminine adjective) – magnificent or gorgeous

For example: 

magnifique palais – magnificent palace

• mignon (masculine adjective) – good-looking or cute

For example: 

chien mignon – cute dog 

4. How to Say You Are Beautiful in French

In the French language, there are differences and rules to take note of when complimenting someone on their appearance. It is not the same for each gender, as well as age or stature or how many people you are saying “You’re beautiful” to. 

When Talking to Women

Tu es belle – You are beautiful

The first portion of the phrase, “tu es,” means “you are,” and the word “belle” means “beautiful.” This is what you say when you’re speaking to a specific person.

Vous êtes belle – You are beautiful

This is what you say when speaking with superiors, the elderly, or notable individuals.

The formal variant of “you” is “vous,” which is used in “proper” speech. Though there is no hard and fast rule for when to say “vous,” a reasonable rule of thumb is to use it for someone whom you would address in English as “Ms.” or “Mrs.”

Vous êtes belles – You are beautiful

This is how you say “You are gorgeous” to several women at the same time. The translation is the same, however this is the plural form of the expression.

It’s worth noting that you can’t just add an “s” to belles; you must also use the plural form of “you are”: “Vous êtes.”

When Talking to Men

Tu es beau – You are beautiful/handsome

The term “beau” is the male version of the word “beautiful.” Beau is the male variant of the female word “belle.” This particular expression is what you say when addressing someone familiar. 

Vous êtes beau – You are beautiful/handsome

When speaking to superiors, the elderly, or notable persons, use the polite “vous êtes belle.”

The formal variant of “you” is “vous,” which is used in informal discussion. Though there is no standard rule, a fair rule of thumb is to use “vous” for anyone you would address as “Mr.” in English.

Vous êtes beaux – You are beautiful/handsome

Say “Vous êtes beaux” to several men to tell them they are attractive. The translation is the same for the singular and plural forms of the equation.

You must add an “x” to the word ending in “au” to make it plural, like “beaux.”

5. Complimenting Beauty in French

When it comes to flirtation, seduction, or praising one’s lover, the French can’t seem to get enough of it.

This is when they can over-express their feelings and get carried away, whether we’re seeking pleasure or romance.

Here are some ways to compliment someone on their nice looks using some of the French words (beautiful synonyms) we learned previously.

• Tu es charmant. – “You are charming.” (Male)
• Tu es charmante. – “You are charming.” (Female)

• Tu es magnifique – You are wonderful 

• Tu es superbe – You are superb

• Tu es élégant(e) – You are elegant 

• Tu es classe – You are classy 

Want to learn more French phrases? Check out our language guides below:

• Gender In French
• Body Parts in French
• Dates In French
• Numbers In French
• Colors In French
• Family In French Vocabulary
• C’est La Vie – Meaning And How To Use It