Learning how to say “pretty” in French can be fun and useful. French is a beautiful language, often called the language of love. Knowing how to describe someone or something as “pretty” helps you compliment others and express yourself better.
In this article, you will learn different ways to say “pretty” in French, how to pronounce them, and use them in sentences. Whether you are talking about a friend, a place, or a thing, you’ll discover phrases that fit various situations. Let’s get started!
Ways to Say “Pretty” in French
In French, there are many ways to describe someone or something as “pretty.” Each expression has its own tone, from casual compliments to more formal praise. Here are some common ways to say “pretty” in French with meanings and example sentences:
1. Jolie (zho-lee)
Meaning: Pretty, lovely (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Cette robe est vraiment jolie. (This dress is really pretty.)
- Tu es si jolie aujourd’hui! (You are so pretty today!)
2. Beau (boh)
Meaning: Handsome, beautiful (masculine)
In a Sentence:
- Il est très beau dans ce costume. (He looks very handsome in that suit.)
- Quel beau paysage! (What a beautiful landscape!)
3. Mignonne (meen-yohn)
Meaning: Cute, sweet (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Cette petite fille est mignonne. (This little girl is cute.)
- Tu es mignonne quand tu souris. (You’re cute when you smile.)
4. Charmante (shar-mahnt)
Meaning: Charming, lovely (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle est charmante et intelligente. (She is charming and smart.)
- Quel sourire charmant! (What a charming smile!)
5. Ravissante (rah-vee-sahnt)
Meaning: Ravishing, stunning (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle était ravissante dans sa robe rouge. (She was stunning in her red dress.)
- Tu es ravissante ce soir! (You look stunning tonight!)
6. Séduisante (say-dwee-zahnt)
Meaning: Attractive, seductive (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle a un regard très séduisant. (She has a very attractive gaze.)
- Cette actrice est séduisante et talentueuse. (This actress is attractive and talented.)
7. Magnifique (mah-nee-feek)
Meaning: Magnificent, gorgeous
In a Sentence:
- La vue sur la mer est magnifique. (The view of the sea is magnificent.)
- Tu es magnifique dans cette tenue. (You look gorgeous in that outfit.)
8. Adorable (ah-do-rah-bluh)
Meaning: Adorable, cute
In a Sentence:
- Ton chiot est tellement adorable! (Your puppy is so adorable!)
- Cette photo de vous est adorable. (This photo of you is adorable.)
9. Éblouissante (ay-bloo-ee-sahnt)
Meaning: Dazzling, stunning (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle était éblouissante sur le tapis rouge. (She was dazzling on the red carpet.)
- Quelle performance éblouissante! (What a stunning performance!)
10. Belle (bell)
Meaning: Beautiful (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Tu es belle comme une princesse. (You are beautiful like a princess.)
- Cette chanson est belle et émouvante. (This song is beautiful and moving.)
11. Agréable (ah-gray-ah-bluh)
Meaning: Pleasant, nice
In a Sentence:
- La soirée était très agréable. (The evening was very pleasant.)
- Elle a une personnalité agréable. (She has a pleasant personality.)
12. Élégante (ay-lay-gahnt)
Meaning: Elegant, stylish (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle est toujours élégante en toutes occasions. (She is always elegant on every occasion.)
- Tu as un style élégant. (You have an elegant style.)
13. Splendide (splahn-deed)
Meaning: Splendid, stunning
In a Sentence:
- La vue depuis le sommet est splendide. (The view from the top is splendid.)
- Sa robe de mariée était splendide. (Her wedding dress was stunning.)
14. Radieuse (rah-dyuhz)
Meaning: Radiant (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle était radieuse de bonheur. (She was radiant with happiness.)
- Tu es radieuse ce matin! (You are radiant this morning!)
15. Gracieuse (grah-syuhz)
Meaning: Graceful, charming (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle danse d’une manière gracieuse. (She dances gracefully.)
- Sa démarche est gracieuse et légère. (Her walk is graceful and light.)
16. Attirante (ah-tee-rahnt)
Meaning: Attractive, appealing (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Cette maison est très attirante. (This house is very appealing.)
- Tu as un sourire attirant. (You have an attractive smile.)
17. Câline (kah-leen)
Meaning: Sweet, cuddly (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Mon chat est si câlin. (My cat is so cuddly.)
- Elle est douce et câline avec ses amis. (She is sweet and cuddly with her friends.)
18. Douce (doos)
Meaning: Sweet, gentle (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle a une voix douce et agréable. (She has a sweet and pleasant voice.)
- Tu es si douce avec tout le monde. (You are so sweet to everyone.)
19. Flamboyante (flahm-boy-ahnt)
Meaning: Flamboyant, dazzling (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Ses tenues sont toujours flamboyantes. (Her outfits are always dazzling.)
- La décoration est flamboyante et colorée. (The decor is flamboyant and colorful.)
20. Pétillante (pay-tee-yahnt)
Meaning: Sparkling, lively (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle a une personnalité pétillante. (She has a lively personality.)
- Son rire est pétillant et contagieux. (Her laugh is sparkling and contagious.)
21. Fascinante (fah-see-nahnt)
Meaning: Fascinating, captivating (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Son histoire était fascinante à écouter. (Her story was fascinating to listen to.)
- Elle a une personnalité fascinante. (She has a captivating personality.)
22. Resplendissante (res-plon-dee-sahnt)
Meaning: Radiant, glowing (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elle était resplendissante dans sa robe de soirée. (She was glowing in her evening dress.)
- Sa beauté naturelle est resplendissante. (Her natural beauty is radiant.)
23. Merveilleuse (mehr-veh-yuhz)
Meaning: Wonderful, marvelous (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- C’était une soirée merveilleuse. (It was a wonderful evening.)
- Tu es une amie merveilleuse. (You are a wonderful friend.)
24. Exquise (ex-keez)
Meaning: Exquisite, delightful (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Cette pâtisserie est exquise. (This pastry is exquisite.)
- Tu as un goût exquis en mode. (You have exquisite taste in fashion.)
25. Lumineuse (loo-mee-nuhz)
Meaning: Luminous, radiant (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Son sourire est lumineux. (Her smile is radiant.)
- La pièce est lumineuse grâce aux grandes fenêtres. (The room is bright thanks to the large windows.)
Other Ways to Say “Pretty” in French
Here’s a table of additional ways to say “pretty” in French, along with pronunciations, meanings, and example sentences:
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Attrayante | ah-tray-yahnt | Attractive (feminine) | Elle est très attrayante dans cette tenue. (She is very attractive in that outfit.) |
| Séduisant | say-dwee-zahnt | Alluring (masculine) | Il a un sourire séduisant. (He has an alluring smile.) |
| Rayonnante | rah-yoh-nahnt | Radiant (feminine) | Elle est rayonnante de bonheur. (She is radiant with happiness.) |
| Envoûtante | ahn-voo-tahnt | Enchanting (feminine) | Sa voix est envoûtante. (Her voice is enchanting.) |
| Éclatante | ay-klah-tahnt | Brilliant, dazzling | Sa beauté est éclatante ce soir. (Her beauty is dazzling tonight.) |
| Chaleureuse | shah-luh-ruhz | Warm, inviting | Son accueil était chaleureux. (Her welcome was warm.) |
| Élégant | ay-lay-gahn | Elegant (masculine) | Il a un style élégant et classique. (He has an elegant and classic style.) |
| Brillante | bree-yahnt | Brilliant, shining | Ses idées sont brillantes. (Her ideas are brilliant.) |
| Enchantante | ahn-shan-tahnt | Enchanting (feminine) | La forêt était enchantante au lever du soleil. (The forest was enchanting at sunrise.) |
| Doux | doo | Sweet, gentle (masculine) | Il a un caractère doux et aimable. (He has a sweet and kind character.) |
Responses to “Pretty” in French
When someone compliments you by calling you “pretty” in French, it’s polite to respond warmly. Here are common responses you can use in different situations:
1. Merci beaucoup (mehr-see boh-koo)
Meaning: Thank you very much.
In a Sentence: Merci beaucoup pour le compliment! (Thank you very much for the compliment!)
2. C’est gentil (say zhahn-tee)
Meaning: That’s kind.
In a Sentence: C’est gentil de le dire. (That’s kind of you to say.)
3. Vous êtes trop aimable (voo eht troh eh-mah-bluh)
Meaning: You’re too kind (formal).
In a Sentence: Merci, vous êtes trop aimable! (Thank you, you’re too kind!)
4. Je suis flatté(e) (juh swee flah-tay)
Meaning: I’m flattered.
In a Sentence: Je suis flattée par votre compliment! (I’m flattered by your compliment!)
5. Merci, c’est adorable (mehr-see, say ah-do-rah-bluh)
Meaning: Thank you, that’s adorable.
In a Sentence: Merci, c’est adorable de votre part! (Thank you, that’s adorable of you!)
6. Tu es gentil(le) (tew eh zhahn-tee / zhahn-teel)
Meaning: You are kind (informal).
In a Sentence: Tu es gentil de me dire ça! (You are kind to say that!)
7. Ça me fait plaisir (sah muh feh pleh-zeer)
Meaning: That makes me happy.
In a Sentence: Merci, ça me fait plaisir d’entendre ça! (Thank you, that makes me happy to hear!)
8. Je l’apprécie vraiment (juh lah-pray-see vray-mah)
Meaning: I really appreciate it.
In a Sentence: Je l’apprécie vraiment, merci! (I really appreciate it, thank you!)
9. C’est très touchant (say tray too-shahn)
Meaning: That’s very touching.
In a Sentence: Merci, c’est très touchant de ta part. (Thank you, that’s very touching of you.)
10. Avec plaisir (ah-vek pleh-zeer)
Meaning: With pleasure.
In a Sentence: Merci pour le compliment, avec plaisir! (Thank you for the compliment, with pleasure!)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Pretty” in French
Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises using the phrases for “pretty” in French. Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word or phrase from the list above. Afterward, you’ll find the answers to check your progress.
Fill-in-the-Blanks:
- Sarah a un sourire __________. (Hint: Beautiful smile)
- Ce paysage est vraiment __________. (Hint: Beautiful, magnificent view)
- Elle porte une robe __________ ce soir. (Hint: Stunning dress)
- Tu as l’air __________ aujourd’hui! (Hint: Pretty today)
- Cette chanson est __________. (Hint: Beautiful song)
- Il a une voix __________. (Hint: Sweet voice)
- La soirée était __________. (Hint: Wonderful evening)
- Le gâteau est __________, il a l’air délicieux! (Hint: Gorgeous cake)
- Tu es __________ dans cette photo. (Hint: Adorable in the photo)
- Il est __________, n’est-ce pas? (Hint: Handsome, looking good)
- Ton idée est __________, vraiment créative. (Hint: Brilliant idea)
- Les fleurs dans le jardin sont __________. (Hint: Dazzling flowers)
Answers:
- Jolie
(Sarah has a pretty smile.) - Magnifique
(This landscape is truly magnificent.) - Ravissante
(She is wearing a stunning dress tonight.) - Jolie
(You look pretty today!) - Belle
(This song is beautiful.) - Douce
(He has a sweet voice.) - Merveilleuse
(The evening was wonderful.) - Splendide
(The cake is gorgeous, it looks delicious!) - Adorable
(You look adorable in this photo.) - Beau
(He looks handsome, doesn’t he?) - Brillante
(Your idea is brilliant, really creative.) - Éclatantes
(The flowers in the garden are dazzling.)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “pretty” in French is an exciting way to expand your vocabulary and appreciate the richness of the language. Whether you’re complimenting someone on their appearance or describing something beautiful, French offers many ways to express admiration. From simple words like jolie to more descriptive ones like ravissante or magnifique, you can easily adapt your compliments to different situations.
By practicing these phrases and using them in context, you’ll feel more confident speaking French and giving compliments. Don’t forget to also practice responding graciously, as knowing how to accept compliments is just as important as giving them. Keep practicing, and soon, expressing beauty in French will become second nature!