French Conversation · Level 117
58 words
French word
bijou
Pronunciation
IPA/biʒu/
Meaning
- masculine nounjewelry
Example
Elle a acheté un bijou pour sa sœur.
She bought a piece of jewelry for her sister.
More examples
Elle porte rarement un bijou.
She rarely wears jewelry.
Core concept
A compact decorative treasure whose value may be material, emotional, or symbolic.
Common phrases
un petit bijou
a small piece of jewelry
un bijou ancien
an old piece of jewelry
offrir un bijou
give a piece of jewelry
Similar words
accessoire: A small decorative or practical accessory used with clothing or personal belongings.
joyau: A precious gemstone or piece of jewelry of exceptional beauty and value.
collier: A piece of jewelry worn around the neck.
bague: A piece of jewelry shaped as a circle and worn on a finger.
Definition in French
Petit objet décoratif porté pour l'ornement personnel, parfois précieux ou symbolique.
Word origin
Bijou developed in French from the sixteenth-century borrowing of Breton bizou, a word for a ring.
Usage tips
- In figurative use, un bijou can describe an excellent small work or creation, so context can make it nonliteral.
Other meanings
- jewelnoun
Opposites
- pacotillecheap trinketnoun
Related words
- bijoutierjewelernoun
- bijouteriejewelry storenoun