French word

visage

Pronunciation

IPA/vizaʒ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounface

Example

Je vois son visage dans la foule.

I can see his face in the crowd.

Illustration for visage (face)

More examples

On peut lire la fatigue sur son visage.

One can read the fatigue on his face.

Core concept

A recognizable human face brings its separate features together into one visible appearance.

Common phrases

  • lire sur le visage

    read on the face

  • visage impassible

    expressionless face

  • visage ridé

    lined face

Similar words

face: The front surface of the head that displays a person's expression.
tête: The whole head, extending from the crown to the back.
figure: The general look conveyed by facial features and the shape of the face.
mine: The look or condition suggested by a person's complexion and expression.

Definition in French

Le visage désigne l'ensemble des traits visibles de la face — la forme, les yeux, le nez et la bouche — qui contribuent à l'apparence et à l'impression qu'une personne dégage.

Word origin

Visage is an Old French development of vis, which is related to the Latin noun visus for sight or appearance.

Usage tips

  • The final e in visage is silent, and the g before e has the sound of the s in measure.

Other meanings

  • facial expressionnoun
  • facial featuresnoun

Related words

  • dévisagerstare at ___verb
  • visagistefacialistnoun

Word lists with this word