French word

nuage

Pronunciation

IPA/nɥaʒ/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncloud

Example

Il y a beaucoup de nuages aujourd'hui.

There are a lot of clouds today.

Illustration for nuage (cloud)

More examples

Un nuage d'orage approche par l'ouest.

A storm cloud is approaching from the west.

Core concept

A visible patch or layer suspended in the sky, from a soft white puff to a broad veil.

Common phrases

  • un nuage de fumée

    a cloud of smoke

  • un nuage de poussière

    a cloud of dust

  • un nuage d'orage

    a storm cloud

Similar words

brouillard: A thick layer of water droplets near the ground that greatly reduces visibility.
brume: A thin layer of fine water droplets near the ground that slightly blurs visibility.

Definition in French

Formation visible dans le ciel composée de fines gouttelettes d'eau ou de petits cristaux de glace.

Word origin

The noun combines the Old French form nue with -age and traces that older form back to Latin nubes.

Usage tips

  • Nuageux is the adjective for cloudy conditions, as in un ciel nuageux, rather than the noun for an individual cloud.

Opposites

  • ciel dégagéclear skynoun
  • beau tempsfine weathernoun

Related words

  • nuageuxcloudyadjective
  • ennuagercloudverb

Word lists with this word