French Conversation · Level 3
88 words
French word
poli
Pronunciation
IPA/poli/
Meaning
- adjectivepolite
Example
Il est très poli avec tout le monde.
He is very polite to everyone.
More examples
Il a essayé de rester poli malgré la provocation.
He tried to stay polite despite the provocation.
Core concept
A person with smoothly finished manners that show respect to others.
Common phrases
rester poli
stay polite
poli avec le personnel
polite toward the staff
un comportement poli
polite behavior
Similar words
courtois: Courteous in both language and conduct toward others.
respectueux: Respectful of others' feelings and position, with no rudeness.
aimable: Pleasant, approachable, and friendly in manner.
prévenant: Considerate of what others need or may find difficult.
Definition in French
Qui adopte des manières correctes et un comportement respectueux envers les autres.
Word origin
French poli comes from Old French poli, from Latin politus, the past participle of polire, 'to polish', and extends the idea of a polished surface to polished manners.
Usage tips
- As an adjective, poli agrees with the noun: il est poli, elle est polie, ils sont polis, and elles sont polies.