French word

voile

Pronunciation

IPA/vwal/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsail

Example

Le bateau a une grande voile blanche.

The boat has a large white sail.

Illustration for voile (sail)

More examples

Nous faisons de la voile sur le lac chaque été.

We go sailing on the lake every summer.

Core concept

One sheet of light fabric serving either as a moving surface for wind or as a soft covering.

Common phrases

  • faire de la voile

    go sailing

  • mettre les voiles

    set sail

Similar words

toile: A somewhat thick woven fabric.
tissu: A general term for fabric made by weaving.
rideau: A hanging cloth used to block light or views.
foulard: A lightweight cloth worn around the neck or head.

Definition in French

Grande pièce de toile tendue sur un mât ou un hauban qui, en se gonflant au vent, fait avancer un navire ; sens dérivé : morceau de tissu léger servant à couvrir ou à voiler.

Word origin

Voile developed from Old French voile and Latin velum, a word for cloth that acquired a specific nautical sense as well as broader covering senses.

Usage tips

  • In voile de mariée, voile means a bridal veil, while une voile by itself commonly refers to a ship's sail when the context is nautical.

Other meanings

  • veilnoun
  • voilenoun

Related words

  • voilercoververb
  • voiliersailing vesselnoun
  • voilécoveredadjective

Word lists with this word