French word

arc-en-ciel

Pronunciation

IPA/aʁkɑ̃sjɛl/

Meaning

  • masculine nounrainbow

Example

Un arc-en-ciel est apparu après l'orage.

A rainbow appeared after the storm.

Illustration for arc-en-ciel (rainbow)

More examples

Les enfants ont dessiné un arc-en-ciel.

The children drew a rainbow.

Core concept

A bright arc of separate colors spanning the sky after a shower.

Common phrases

  • voir un arc-en-ciel

    see a rainbow

  • un double arc-en-ciel

    a double rainbow

  • un arc-en-ciel après la pluie

    a rainbow after the rain

Similar words

ciel: The whole region of sky seen when looking upward from the ground.
pluie: Rain falling from the sky as droplets that wet the ground.
nuage: A floating mass of small water droplets or ice particles in the sky.
soleil: The bright body in the sky that gives daylight and warmth.

Definition in French

Phénomène optique qui forme dans le ciel une bande colorée en arc, visible généralement après la pluie.

Word origin

Arc-en-ciel is a compound of arc, meaning 'bow', en, meaning 'in', and ciel, meaning 'sky', with Latin roots behind arc and ciel.

Usage tips

  • The plural is arcs-en-ciel, with the plural ending added only to arc.

Word lists with this word