French word

nu

Pronunciation

IPA/ny/

Meaning

  • adjectivenaked

Example

Les enfants jouent nus dans le jardin.

The children play naked in the garden.

Illustration for nu (naked)

More examples

Il préfère être nu à la maison.

He prefers to be naked at home.

Core concept

A person or surface has its outer covering removed, leaving what lies beneath exposed.

Common phrases

  • être nu

    be naked

  • pieds nus

    bare feet

  • torse nu

    bare-chested

Similar words

dénudé: Stripped of coverings or decoration, leaving the underlying part visible.
découvert: Not covered, with the surface left open to the outside.
exposé: Open to outside influences or the scrutiny of others.

Definition in French

Dénudé ou sans vêtement; par extension, dépourvu de couverture ou de protection.

Word origin

French nu comes from Latin nudus through Old French and retains the linked senses of being without clothing and being uncovered.

Usage tips

  • Nu agrees with the noun: nue is feminine singular, nus is masculine plural, and nues is feminine plural.

Other meanings

  • bareadjective
  • exposedadjective

Opposites

  • habillédressedadjective
  • vêtuclothedadjective

Related words

  • nuditénuditynoun
  • nudistenudistnoun
  • dénudébareadjective

Word lists with this word