French word

tableau

Pronunciation

IPA/tablo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpainting

Example

Le tableau est accroché au mur.

The painting is hanging on the wall.

Illustration for tableau (painting)

More examples

Elle a peint ce tableau l'année dernière.

She painted this painting last year.

Core concept

A framed visual panel that presents a painted or drawn scene for viewing.

Common phrases

  • accrocher un tableau

    hang a painting

  • regarder un tableau

    look at a painting

Similar words

peinture: A painted picture on canvas or in a frame.
photo: One photograph captured by a camera.
dessin: A drawing made using a pencil or pen.
image: A visible picture or diagram.

Definition in French

Image peinte ou dessinée sur un support (toile, bois, cadre) destinée à être regardée comme œuvre visuelle.

Word origin

French tableau comes through Old French tablel from Latin tabula, meaning a board or tablet, and later names the image displayed on such a surface.

Usage tips

  • Tableau is masculine, so the usual phrase is un tableau, and its plural is tableaux with the final x silent.

Other meanings

  • tablenoun
  • blackboardnoun

Word lists with this word