French Conversation · Level 12
90 words
French word
pâle
Pronunciation
IPA/pal/
Meaning
- adjectivepale
Example
Tu as l'air pâle.
You look pale.
More examples
Son teint est pâle après la maladie.
His complexion is pale after the illness.
Core concept
A face or color drained of vividness, leaving a weak, near-white impression.
Common phrases
avoir l'air pâle
look pale
teint pâle
pale complexion
visage pâle
pale face
Similar words
blême: Extremely white-looking because the face has lost its color.
blanc: White without any added color, shade, or tint.
clair: Bright and lightly colored, creating a fresh, airy impression.
Definition in French
Qui paraît presque blanc parce qu'il manque de couleur naturelle, surtout pour la peau ou une nuance.
Word origin
French pâle comes from Latin pallidus, meaning pale, through Old French pale, and keeps the sense of reduced color in skin and shades.
Usage tips
- For people, pâle often suggests missing blood color or a change in health, whereas blanc simply describes white.