French Conversation · Level 40
75 words
French word
fragile
Pronunciation
IPA/fʁaʒil/
Meaning
- adjectivefragile
Example
Attention, ce vase est fragile.
Be careful, this vase is fragile.
More examples
Cette assiette est fragile, lave-la à la main.
This plate is fragile; wash it by hand.
Core concept
A thin glass vase develops a crack from a light touch.
Common phrases
assiette fragile
fragile plate
verre fragile
fragile drinking glass
bijou fragile
fragile piece of jewelry
Similar words
délicat: Needing gentle handling to avoid damage or loss of function.
cassant: Brittle and likely to break into pieces under impact or pressure.
Definition in French
Qui se casse ou s'endommage facilement sous une faible contrainte; qui a peu de résistance matérielle.
Word origin
French fragile comes from Latin fragilis, from frangere, 'to break', through Old French, retaining its original sense of easy breakage.
Usage tips
- Fragile has the same form for masculine and feminine singular nouns, while the plural form is fragiles.