61+ Unique and Beautiful French Words to Brighten Your Day

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The French language is stunning. From words that just roll off the tongue, to those that simply can’t be translated into any other language, French is full of beautiful and unique words.

Some of the most beautiful French words are easy to apply to your everyday life alongside basic French words you already know. Others are simply fun to say and can help your pronunciation with some practice. Learn how to use beautiful French verbs, nouns, adjectives, and more in everyday conversation!

Take action with lovely French verbs

Essential to your sentence, French verbs are action words. Some of them need to be translated as an entire phrase in English to attempt to capture the French meaning. Others are just fun to say. Here are some beautiful French words that will make your verbs pop.

Bricoler

Meaning: to do little odd jobs, DIY projects, or cobble things together. 

Le bricolage (odd jobs/DIY projects) is a popular way for French adults to spend their spare time. 

Câliner

Meaning: to cuddle

A parent might cuddle a child, or give a câlin (hug/cuddle) to soothe them. 

Chuchoter

Meaning: to whisper

Pronounce this word by saying its “ch” parts like “shh.” The sounds should remind you of this verb’s meaning. 

Décoller

Meaning: to take off, as in an airplane

The literal meaning of this verb is “to unstick.” The visual of l’avion (the airplane) “unsticking” from the runway is always a fun way to remember this verb.

Feuilleter

Meaning: to leaf through reading materials

Practice pronouncing this verb (feuh-yeuh-tay) to describe the activity of light reading when you simply turn each feuille de papier (piece of paper) without paying too much attention.

Flâner

Meaning: to stroll or wander aimlessly, not doing anything in particular

Explore les rues (the streets) of a French city without an itinerary or any goals in particular. Stop for un café (a coffee) or pop into an interesting looking boutique (shop), or anything else that inspires you at the moment! 

Grignoter

Meaning: to snack between meals

While it could be frowned upon as a habit of everyday life, it’s a great idea if you’re traveling! Have an en-cas (snack) on hand “just in case,” a casse-croûte (a salty snack), or a goûter (a sweet snack around 4 p.m to 5 p.m.). 

Scintiller

Meaning: to sparkle/to twinkle

Paris inspires many opportunities to use this word. Describe the river Seine on a sunny day as a diamant (diamond) in a beautiful bague (ring), or La Tour Eiffel at night when it sparkles for five minutes on the top of every hour. 

Tartiner

Meaning: to spread on bread or toast

There are many beautiful French words for food. Explore the different options for pâte à tartiner (spread), which could be made with nuts or chocolate, or fromage à tartiner (cheese spread).

Tutoyer

Meaning: to use the casual and friendly tu (you) form to address someone. In English we don’t have a distinction for the word “you,” but you must choose between the French pronouns tu and vous, depending on the context. 

Vouvoyer

Meaning: to use the more formal vous (you) form of address

Leveling up the formality or respect in a conversation, the vous form is considered polite among people you don’t know well, or in a context that requires more polite manners. 

Beautiful nouns that are fun to say in French

These uniquely beautiful French nouns are words that name people, places, things, and ideas. Here are a few beautiful French words that will enhance your vocabulary and are fun to say.

L’alouette

Meaning: the lark/skylark

The childhood song is indeed a song about a skylark, but like many children’s rhymes and songs, takes a bit of a turn. Just keep singing the lyrics in French, because alouette is a beautiful word in French! 

“Alouette, gentille alouette, alouette, je te plumerai.” = “Lark, sweet little lark, lark, I will pluck out your feathers.”

L’amitié

Meaning: friendship

The noun that gives us un ami/une amie (a friend) is one of the greatest motivations for learning French. Being able to talk to a friend in their first language is a wonderful way to connect. 

Le baobab

This African tree is majestic and interesting, as it appears that it was planted upside-down with its racines (roots) in the air. The baobab is a powerful symbol of African countries such as le Sénégal and is a well-known part of the plot of the beloved children’s book Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince). 

Les bisous

Meaning: kisses, or “xxoo” at the end of a letter

These bisous can be literal kisses, or just a friendly greeting to pass along, such as bisous à toute la famille ! = Tell your whole family I said hi! 

L’épouvantail

Meaning: the scarecrow

This fun word is meant to scare away les corbeaux (the crows) out of the farmers’ champs (fields). It’s similar to épouvantable (horrendous/dreadful/appalling), which is another powerful word for your vocabulary. 

Le funiculaire

Meaning: the funicular (a cable railroad car, especially on a steep mountainside)

Visit Le Funiculaire du Vieux Québec (The Funicular of Old Québec) for gorgeous views. The 30-second ride at this historic site is at a 45-degree angle and gives you a unique view of Le Fleuve Saint-Laurent (the Saint-Lawrence River). 

L’hippopotame

Meaning: hippopotamus

Isn’t this word the most fun to say in any language? Especially in French, since the “h” is silent. Say it a few times out loud and it’s sure to bring a sourire (smile). 

L’hirondelle

Meaning: the swallow

This noun names an insect-eating bird with long wings and a divided tail. 

Le pamplemousse

Meaning: the grapefruit

There’s quite a big difference between pamplemousse and mousse au chocolat (chocolate mousse). There’s an even bigger difference for mousse coiffante (hair mousse)! 

Le porte-bonheur

Meaning: the lucky charm

This compound noun is made from the verb porter (to bring) and le bonheur (joy/good fortune). Find un trèfle à quatre feuilles (a four-leaf clover), which is another fun phrase to say. 

Le tournesol

Meaning: the sunflower

The parts of this beautiful French word remind us that the sunflower turns to face le soleil (the sun). The image of fields of sunflowers and lavande (lavender) in Provence in the South of France can surely brighten your day.

La viennoiserie

Meaning: pastries

This type of pastry includes les croissants (croissants), les pains au chocolat, and les pains au raisin. Don’t miss out on one of the most beautiful experiences in French culture. 

Interesting and beautiful French adjectives

Adjectives, describing words, in French are useful to distinguish between objects, express your feelings, and enliven your vocabulary. If you know basic adjectives, you can use the French superlatives to accentuate them. When you’re ready for even more descriptive flair in your French, use these specific adjectives.

Amélioré/améliorée

Meaning: improved or made better, enhanced

The verb améliorer (to improve) is the basis for this adjective. You’ll find that with effort and attention and some help from Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method, your French level will be greatly amélioré (improved). 

Coquelicot

Meaning: poppy-red 

This beautiful and interesting French word is both a noun and an adjective. Un coquelicot (a poppy) is one of several flowers that lend their names to colors in French, such as lavande (lavender), lilas (lilac), and of course rose (pink). These adjectives that come from nouns are invariable, meaning they’re exempt from the French grammar rules that require adjectives to agree with nouns.

Éclatant/éclatante

Meaning: brilliant, dazzling, sensational, resounding (and more synonyms) 

This French word brings some pizzazz to your vocabulary. Use it to describe the impactful sights and sounds of celebrations around the French-speaking world. See also the synonym, éblouissant/éblouissante. 

Épanoui/épanouie

Meaning: radiant, glowing

Especially when a woman is enceinte (pregnant), she could be described as glowing and blooming. 

Éphémère

Meaning: ephemeral, as in momentary and fleeting

This is one of the greatest French words for beauty. Whether you’re describing le coucher du soleil (the sunset) or a particularly pretty fleur (flower), many beautiful things must be appreciated in the moment before they are lost. 

Féerique

Meaning: otherworldly/magical/enchanting

As in, relating to les fées (the fairies). Whether it’s beautiful wintery mountain views in the Swiss Alps or tiny villages tucked into forests, your travels could take you to locations as enchanting as these beautiful French words. 

Formidable

Meaning: astounding, amazing

This adjective can be a terrific addition to your list of common French adjectives. Use it to express delight and give compliments.

Rocambolesque

Meaning; extravagant, extraordinary

This word could be used to describe a history that is full of over-the-top adventures, a ceremony, an outfit, or an intense situation. 

Superflu/superflue

Meaning: unnecessary/superfluous

This word just sounds better in French pronunciation. French food and fashion is known for its simple elegance and quality, without too much that is superflu.  

Volubile

Meaning: extremely talkative/loquacious

This is a superb adjective to describe someone who can talk at length and with ease.

The French motto and more inspiring words in French

The French motto, “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” (“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”) was written into the French constitution in 1958, but first appeared during the French Revolution. These inspiring words and more are not only wonderful nouns to learn in French, but can help you understand the cultural values of your own culture and others.

You’ll notice that nouns that name general concepts and ideas will still use the definite articles in French, le, la, les, l’ (the). In English, they’re not typically used. These beautiful French words help demonstrate the difference.

Enrich your vocabulary with beautiful French words

If you want to pronounce French words beautifully as well, let Rosetta Stone help. All of our features for learning French are equipped with TruAccent, a voice recognition tool that gives you feedback in real time. With practice, you’ll be able to nail the unique French “u” sound in superflu, and capture the difference that the accent marks can make in the vowels of éphémère. These and other beautiful French words will roll off your tongue with ease, and you’ll speak French with confidence.