French Conversation · Level 63
76 words
French word
voiler
Pronunciation
IPA/vwale/
Meaning
- verbhide
Example
Il a voilé la vérité par peur.
He hid the truth out of fear.
More examples
On voile souvent les visages sur les réseaux sociaux.
People often blur faces on social media.
Core concept
A thin veil lies over a clear fact, softening its outline without making it vanish.
Common phrases
voiler la vérité
conceal the truth
se voiler la face
pretend not to face reality
voiler son visage
cover one's face
Similar words
cacher: Keep something fully hidden from view or discovery.
couvrir: Put something over a surface to hide it from view.
dissimuler: Keep a fact or emotion hidden from other people.
masquer: Conceal the real appearance by altering how it is presented.
Definition in French
Mettre un voile sur quelque chose, c'est-à-dire atténuer, masquer ou rendre floue une vérité ou un détail.
Word origin
French voiler formed from voile, which comes through Old French from Latin velum, meaning a covering or sail.
Usage tips
- Voiler often suggests partial concealment or blurred detail, whereas cacher more generally means to hide something from view.