French word

précieux

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁesjø/

Meaning

  • adjectivevaluable

Example

Ton amitié est précieuse pour moi.

Your friendship is valuable to me.

Illustration for précieux (valuable)

More examples

Ne perds pas ton temps précieux.

Do not waste your valuable time.

Core concept

A valued object or bond kept safe because losing it would matter deeply.

Common phrases

  • temps précieux

    valuable time

  • conseil précieux

    precious advice

  • moment précieux

    irreplaceable moment

Similar words

cher: Expensive and requiring a substantial amount of money.
important: Important because it has considerable impact or meaning.

Definition in French

Qui a une grande valeur, souvent d'ordre sentimental, et qui mérite d'être conservé ou protégé.

Word origin

Précieux comes through Old French from Latin pretium, 'value', via the Late Latin adjective pretiosus.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, précieux changes to précieuse in the feminine, as in une amitié précieuse.

Other meanings

  • dearadjective

Opposites

  • insignifiantunimportantadjective
  • négligeabletrivialadjective

Related words

  • précieusementwith careadverb

Word lists with this word