What does beau in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word beau in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use beau in French.

The word beau in French means beautiful, lovely, fine, nice, nice, polite, nice, beauty, gorgeous, beautiful, Things always look up in the end, right in the middle of, in the middle of the night, may well do , might well do, be all very well for to do, get to play the hero, be in a sunny mood, have good taste, have a good sense of style, good-looking girl, (as) handsome as they come, be a handsome one, be a handsome devil, like a Greek god, (as) handsome/gorgeous as a Greek god, very good-looking, very handsome, be a handsome one, be a handsome devil, good weather, kind gesture, good-looking guy, sportsman-like, good sport, upper crust, elite, high society, smart set, smooth-talker, smooth-talker, real bastard, the fair sex, the fairer sex, dark handsome stranger, nice work, good work, son-in-law, step-son, brother-in-law, brother-in-law, illustrated book, dad-in-law, parent-in-law, step-parent, father-in-law, stepfather, it's all very well, it's all well and good, it's all very well doing , it's all very well to do, that's nice, that's great, It's too good to be true, it's a mess, find a good match, make a good match, be consistently good, be constantly sunny, be set fair, be a good sport, be fine, be good, be sunny, be up to , get up to, call the shots, sit up and beg, preen, the weather is nice, had better not, the best part is, the best part is that, make small talk, look good, That's lovely!, What are you up to?, Have you been doing anything interesting?, do your damnedest, play the good guy, smarten yourself up, dress yourself up, spruce yourself up, at his/her best, at its best, nice and handsome, nice and smart, nice and hot, one fine day, one bright morning, old beau, old playboy. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word beau

beautiful

adjectif (joli)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

J'habite dans une belle maison. // Quel bel homme !

What a good-looking man!

lovely

adjectif (plaisant)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ces instruments produisent de beaux sons.

These instruments make beautiful sounds.

fine

adjectif (agréable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

J'aime bien me promener tard durant les belles soirées d'été.

I like to go for late walks during the fine summer evenings.

nice

adjectif (bien fait)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

C'est parfait, c'est du beau travail !

That's perfect. Nice work!

nice

adjectif (familier (bien, correct)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ce n'est pas beau de mentir.

It's not nice to tell lies.

polite

adjectif (élégant)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Vincent a eu une belle attention à mon égard.

Vincent showed me polite attentions.

nice

adjectif (important) (figurative, informal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Mon oncle a amassé un beau pécule au fil du temps. // Tu t'es fait une belle bosse, dis donc !

Hey, you've got yourself quite a bump there!

beauty

nom masculin (choses belles)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Kant définit le beau comme « ce qui plaît universellement sans concept ».

Kant defines beauty as "that which pleases universally without a concept."

gorgeous, beautiful

(familier (terme familier pour un proche) (informal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Things always look up in the end

(figuré (la joie succède à la tristesse)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Après la pluie le beau temps, après deux ans de petits boulots elle a enfin trouvé un travail fixe.

right in the middle of

(pendant [qch])

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Mon collègue est venu me chercher au beau milieu de la réunion.

in the middle of the night

locution adverbiale (en pleine nuit, très tard)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Il m'a appelé au beau milieu de la nuit.

may well do , might well do

locution verbale (même si)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Tartuffe a beau être dévot, il n'en est pas moins homme pour autant. Le garçon avait beau tirer sur la porte, elle refusait de s'ouvrir.

Well might the boy have pulled at the door; it refused to open.

be all very well for to do

locution verbale (être facile pour [qqn] de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

La direction a beau jeu de critiquer ce cadre alors qu'elle était parfaitement au courant de ses agissements.

It's all very well for the management to criticise that executive when they were well aware of what he was doing.

get to play the hero

locution verbale (familier (apparaître à son avantage)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be in a sunny mood

(figuré (être de bonne humeur)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Les jeunes diplômés avaient le moral au beau fixe.

have good taste, have a good sense of style

locution verbale (avoir bon goût)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Marie a le sens du beau, elle fait toujours de belles décorations.

good-looking girl

nom masculin (jolie fille)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Jessica est un beau brin de fille qui plaît beaucoup aux garçons.

(as) handsome as they come

locution adjectivale (extrêmement beau)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

be a handsome one, be a handsome devil

locution adjectivale (familier (très beau)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Look at him, he is a handsome devil.

like a Greek god, (as) handsome/gorgeous as a Greek god

adjectif (d'une grande beauté)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Mon nouveau collègue est beau comme un dieu !

very good-looking, very handsome

locution adjectivale (familier (très beau)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

be a handsome one, be a handsome devil

locution adjectivale (familier (très beau)

good weather

nom masculin (temps radieux)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le beau fixe est annoncé pour la semaine prochaine.

kind gesture

nom masculin (action remarquable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

L'hospitalité proposée par la population fut un beau geste des villageois lors de la terrible inondation.

good-looking guy

nom masculin (familier (jeune homme plaisant à regarder)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il y a quelques beaux gosses dans cette équipe.

There are a few good-looking guys in this team.

sportsman-like

(fair-play)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

good sport

nom masculin (joueur fair-play)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

upper crust, elite, high society

nom masculin (figuré, familier (grandes personalités)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

smart set

nom masculin (gens de la haute société)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

smooth-talker

nom masculin (personne parlant plus qu'elle n'agit)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ce collègue est un beau parleur mais il ne fait pas grand-chose...

That colleague of mine certainly talks the talk, but he doesn't do much ...

smooth-talker

nom masculin (dragueur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le voisin est un beau parleur.

My neighbour is a smooth-talker.

real bastard

nom masculin (vulgaire (vraiment sale type) (vulgar)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

the fair sex, the fairer sex

nom masculin (les femmes) (dated)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

dark handsome stranger

nom masculin (bel homme brun)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Nathalie a un faible pour les bruns ténébreux.

nice work, good work

nom masculin (Bravo !)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

son-in-law

nom masculin (gendre, mari de la fille)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Notre fille ne peut pas venir à notre anniversaire, mais notre beau-fils viendra, lui.

step-son

nom masculin (fils d'un époux)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Son remariage lui a apporté deux beaux-fils.

brother-in-law

nom masculin (frère de la femme ou du mari)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

En épousant Sylvie, Gérard, le frère de Sylvie, est devenu mon beau-frère.

When I married Sylvia, her brother Gerard became my brother-in-law.

brother-in-law

nom masculin (mari d'un membre de sa fratrie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Paul est devenu mon beau-frère le jour de son mariage avec ma sœur.

Paul became my brother-in-law on the day he married my sister.

illustrated book

nom masculin (grand livre avec illustrations)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Son oncle lui a offert un beau-livre d'astronomie.

dad-in-law

nom masculin (familier (père du conjoint) (partner's father)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Marc s'entend très bien avec son beau-papa.

parent-in-law

nom masculin (souvent au pluriel (parent du conjoint)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Christelle s'entend bien avec ses beaux-parents.

step-parent

nom masculin (souvent au pluriel (nouveau conjoint d'un parent)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il n'est pas facile pour un adolescent d'avoir un beau-parent.

father-in-law

nom masculin (père du conjoint)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le beau-père accueillit son gendre à bras ouverts.

The father-in-law welcomed his son-in-law with open arms.

stepfather

nom masculin (nouveau mari de la mère)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les enfants apprécient beaucoup leur beau-père.

The children like their stepfather very much.

it's all very well, it's all well and good

(familier, ironique (marque une sorte de désaccord) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

C'est bien beau tous ces discours sur l'égalité, mais maintenant, il faut agir ! C'est bien beau, cette grève des cheminots, mais comment est-ce que je rentre chez moi maintenant ?

it's all very well doing , it's all very well to do

(familier, ironique (marque une sorte de désaccord) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

C'est bien beau de vouloir augmenter les prestations sociales, mais avec quel argent ça va être financé ?

that's nice, that's great

(ironique, familier (critique moqueuse) (ironic)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Faire encore pipi dans sa culotte à ton âge ? C'est du beau !

It's too good to be true

(c'est peu vraisemblable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it's a mess

(Quel dommage !)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

find a good match, make a good match

locution verbale (épouser [qqn] avec une bonne situation)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be consistently good, be constantly sunny

locution verbale (temps : faire beau)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Nous avons de la chance pour nos vacances : le temps est au beau fixe.

be set fair

locution verbale (figuré (aller bien) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Le marché de l'emploi des ingénieurs informaticiens est au beau fixe.

be a good sport

locution verbale (jouer honnêtement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Tous reconnaissent que ce sportif est beau joueur.

Everyone knows that sportsman plays by the rules.

be fine, be good, be sunny

locution verbale (météo : avoir beau temps) (weather)

Aujourd'hui, il fera beau sur l'ensemble de la région.

Today it will be sunny across the whole region.

be up to , get up to

locution verbale (familier (faire [qch] d'intéressant) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

En rentrant dans ma chambre, ma mère m'a demandé : « Alors, tu fais quoi de beau ? ». Qu'est-ce que tu as fait de beau à l'école, mon poussin ?

call the shots

locution verbale (décider des choses)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

sit up and beg

locution verbale (chien : s'asseoir) (dog)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

preen

locution verbale (personne : parader) (figurative: person)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

the weather is nice

(expression pour beau temps)

Il fait beau. On pourrait sortir.

had better not

(péjoratif (je le déconseille fortement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Pardon ? Il voudrait faire cela sans me demander ? Il ferait beau voir !

Sorry? He's going to do that without asking me? I'd like to see him try!

the best part is, the best part is that

(le plus étonnant c'est que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Et le plus beau dans cette histoire, c'est que Pierre et Marie ne se connaissaient pas.

make small talk

locution verbale (figuré (parler de choses banales)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

look good

locution verbale (avoir belle allure)

That's lovely!

interjection (Comme c'est joli !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

Qu'est-ce que c'est beau ! Tu as fait cela toi-même ?

What are you up to?

(Qu'est-tu en train de faire ?) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

En rentrant dans ma chambre, ma mère m'a demandé : « Alors, qu'est-ce que tu fais de beau ? ». Et toi, tu fais quoi de beau à Paris ?

Have you been doing anything interesting?

(Que deviens-tu ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Ça fait longtemps que je ne t'ai pas vu. Qu'est-ce que tu fais de beau maintenant ?

do your damnedest

(faire tout son possible) (slang)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Marie s'est démenée comme un beau diable pour que tout soit prêt le jour J.

play the good guy

locution verbale (jouer au gentil) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

J'ai écouté ses explications et elle se donne le beau rôle.

smarten yourself up, dress yourself up, spruce yourself up

locution verbale (se mettre en valeur, bien s'habiller)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

at his/her best, at its best

locution adverbiale (au mieux)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

nice and handsome, nice and smart

locution adverbiale (bien joli)

nice and hot

locution adjectivale (bien frais, tout neuf)

one fine day

(un jour quelconque)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Un beau jour, Tania décida d'apprendre le français.

One fine day, Tania decided to learn French.

one bright morning

locution adverbiale (un jour)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Un beau matin, je me suis résolu à ne plus fumer.

old beau, old playboy

nom masculin (péjoratif (homme sur le retour)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

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