French word

lilas

Pronunciation

IPA/lila/

Meaning

  • masculine nounlilac

Example

Il y a un lilas dans le jardin.

There is a lilac in the garden.

Illustration for lilas (lilac)

More examples

Le parfum de lilas emplit la terrasse.

The fragrance of lilac fills the terrace.

Core concept

A spring shrub carrying clusters of small pale-purple blossoms, with the same shade used as a color name.

Common phrases

  • une branche de lilas

    a branch of lilac

  • le parfum de lilas

    the fragrance of lilac

Similar words

fleur: The blooming part of a plant, often distinctive in color or shape.
plante: A living organism rooted in soil with leaves and stems.
arbre: A woody plant that grows tall with a thick trunk.
arbuste: A low, woody plant with many branches and dense growth.

Definition in French

Arbuste à fleurs qui produit au printemps des grappes de petites fleurs généralement d'un violet pâle; le mot désigne aussi cette couleur.

Word origin

French lilas came through Arabic līlak from Persian nīlak, meaning bluish, and the plant name also became the name of its pale-purple color.

Usage tips

  • Lilas is masculine for the plant, as in un lilas, and its final s is silent.

Related words

Word lists with this word