French word

brouillard

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁujaʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounfog

Example

Le brouillard est dense ce matin, on ne voit pas la route.

The fog is thick this morning, making the road impossible to see.

Illustration for brouillard (fog)

More examples

Un brouillard matinal ralentit les transports.

A morning fog slows transportation.

Core concept

A low blanket of suspended water droplets that turns distant shapes pale and hard to see.

Common phrases

  • un brouillard épais

    thick fog

  • un brouillard matinal

    morning fog

  • du brouillard

    fog

Similar words

brume: A thin veil of tiny water droplets makes the air and distant views look hazy.
nuage: A mass of water droplets or ice crystals floating visibly in the sky.
buée: Tiny water droplets collecting on glass or mirrors and making their surfaces cloudy.
vapeur: Water turned into gas by heat, visible as steam or vapor.

Definition in French

Masse d'air proche du sol contenant de fines gouttelettes d'eau en suspension qui réduit fortement la visibilité.

Word origin

French brouillard comes from Old French brouillart, formed from brouiller, 'to disturb or mix,' with the suffix -ard.

Usage tips

  • Brouillard is masculine, and ordinary weather descriptions use the partitive phrase du brouillard, as in Il y a du brouillard.

Other meanings

  • mistnoun

Opposites

  • temps clairclear weathernoun

Related words

  • brouillerconfuseverb
  • brouilléblurredadjective

Word lists with this word