French word

ténu

Pronunciation

IPA/teny/

Meaning

  • adjectivefaint

Example

Il y avait une ténue odeur de café.

There was a faint smell of coffee.

Illustration for ténu (faint)

More examples

Il reste un espoir ténu.

A faint hope remains.

Core concept

A nearly invisible thread of scent, sound, light, or difference that barely reaches awareness.

Common phrases

  • un espoir ténu

    a faint hope

  • une trace ténue

    a faint trace

Similar words

léger: Low in intensity or degree, creating a light and mild impression.
faible: Weak in force or influence and not strong enough.
discret: Reserved and unobtrusive, present without drawing attention.
minime: Very small in amount or degree, close to the minimum.

Definition in French

Qui est très fin ou de faible densité et qui se remarque à peine; s'emploie pour des sensations, des traces ou des différences minimes.

Word origin

Ténu comes from Latin tenuis, meaning "thin", and French applies that physical idea to slight intensity and barely perceptible traces.

Usage tips

  • Ténu agrees in gender and number, so the feminine singular is ténue and the plural forms are ténus or ténues; the added e is not pronounced.

Other meanings

  • slightadjective
  • thinadjective

Opposites

  • évidentobviousadjective
  • prononcédistinctadjective

Word lists with this word