French Conversation · Level 168
15 words
French word
pupille
Pronunciation
IPA/pypij/
Meaning
- feminine nounpupil
Example
Elle a de grandes pupilles.
She has large pupils.
More examples
Ses pupilles se dilatent dans l'obscurité.
Her pupils dilate in the dark.
Core concept
The dark central opening in the iris, like a small window admitting light.
Common phrases
pupille de l'œil
pupil of the eye
pupilles dilatées
dilated pupils
pupilles contractées
constricted pupils
Similar words
œil: The organ that takes in light and enables sight.
iris: The ring-shaped part of the eye that gives it its color.
Definition in French
Ouverture noire et centrale de l'œil, visible comme un disque sombre au milieu de l'iris, qui laisse passer la lumière.
Word origin
French pupille comes from Latin pupilla, a diminutive of pupa meaning 'doll' or 'little girl', referring to the small reflected image seen in the eye.
Usage tips
- English pupil can mean a student, but French uses élève for a school student; pupille mainly means the eye's pupil and can also mean a person under legal protection.
Other meanings
- wardnoun
Related words
- pupillairepupillaryadjective