French word

blanc

Pronunciation

IPA/blɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivewhite

Example

La chemise est blanche.

The shirt is white.

Illustration for blanc (white)

More examples

Elle porte un manteau blanc.

She is wearing a white coat.

Core concept

A clean white surface catching light, from fresh snow to a folded shirt.

Common phrases

  • vin blanc

    white wine

  • pain blanc

    white bread

  • manteau blanc

    white coat

Similar words

pâle: Pale in appearance, with reduced color intensity and a whitish cast.
clair: Light and softly tinted, with a bright, delicate color.

Definition in French

Signifie « de couleur blanche » ou « très clair », utilisé pour qualifier des objets comme la neige, le papier ou le linge.

Word origin

Blanc comes through Old French from a Frankish Germanic word related to shining or brightness, which developed into the sense of white.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, blanc agrees with the noun: masculine blanc becomes feminine blanche, with a pronounced sh sound in the feminine form.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word