French Conversation · Level 81
60 words
French word
souple
Pronunciation
IPA/supl/
Meaning
- adjectivesoft
Example
Le cuir devient souple avec le temps.
The leather becomes soft over time.
More examples
Pour le yoga, il faut un corps souple.
For yoga, you need a flexible body.
Core concept
A material or body part that bends under pressure instead of breaking, extending to a person, schedule, or rule that adjusts without becoming rigid.
Common phrases
cuir souple
supple leather
tissu souple
flexible fabric
être souple
be flexible
Similar words
mou: Soft enough to yield, dent, or change shape under pressure.
flexible: Able to adapt readily to changing situations or requirements.
élastique: Able to stretch when pulled and return to its original shape when released.
pliant: Easily bent by force without breaking.
Definition in French
Qui, par sa consistance, se plie ou se déforme facilement sans se casser ; s'emploie pour des matériaux (cuir, tissu), une partie du corps, et par extension pour une personne, un horaire ou une règle capable de s'adapter.
Word origin
Souple entered French through Old French from Latin supplex, and its meaning broadened from physical pliancy to adaptable people, schedules, and rules.
Usage tips
- Souple has the same form in masculine and feminine singular, as in un cuir souple and une règle souple; only the plural adds -s.