French word

écarlate

Pronunciation

IPA/ekaʁlat/

Meaning

  • adjectivescarlet

Example

Le manteau est écarlate.

The coat is scarlet.

Illustration for écarlate (scarlet)

More examples

Elle portait une robe écarlate hier soir.

She wore a scarlet dress last night.

Core concept

A saturated red flash that stays close to pure red rather than drifting toward pink or orange.

Common phrases

  • une robe écarlate

    a scarlet dress

  • un manteau écarlate

    a scarlet coat

  • des lèvres écarlates

    scarlet lips

Similar words

rouge: The ordinary, general term for the color red.
rouge vif: A bright, clearly defined red color.

Definition in French

Qui a une couleur rouge très vif, lumineux et intense, proche du rouge pur et employé pour décrire une teinte éclatante.

Word origin

French écarlate developed from Old French escarlate and Medieval Latin scarlatum, which referred to a valuable red cloth before describing the color itself.

Usage tips

  • Écarlate is more literary or precise than everyday rouge, while rouge vif is common in ordinary description.

Opposites

  • pâlepaleadjective
  • ternedulladjective

Word lists with this word