French word

sage

Pronunciation

IPA/saʒ/

Meaning

  • adjectivewell-behaved

Example

Le bébé est sage aujourd'hui.

The baby is well-behaved today.

Illustration for sage (well-behaved)

More examples

Sois sage chez le médecin.

Behave at the doctor's.

Core concept

A calm child sitting quietly and staying within expected boundaries.

Common phrases

  • être sage

    behave

  • un enfant sage

    a quiet child

  • sage comme une image

    as good as gold

Similar words

calme: Calm and emotionally untroubled.
obéissant: Willing to comply with commands or directions.
poli: Courteous and respectful in dealings with others.
réservé: Not readily expressing personal feelings or views.

Definition in French

Qui se comporte calmement, sans faire de bruit, et respecte les règles.

Word origin

French sage comes through Old French from a Latin family related to sapere, 'to know', with meanings that developed toward good judgment and well-behaved conduct.

Usage tips

  • Sage stays unchanged for masculine and feminine singular: un enfant sage and une enfant sage, while the plural is sages.

Other meanings

  • wiseadjective

Opposites

  • désobéissantdisobedientadjective
  • indisciplinéundisciplinedadjective

Related words

  • sagessewisdomnoun
  • sagementobedientlyadverb

Word lists with this word