jaune
/ʒon/
jaune is the French word for yellow.
The word jaune is used as an adjective to describe something having yellow as its color. You can also use the phrase de couleur jaune to specify that an object is of the color yellow. For an informal way to describe a very bright or intense yellow, you can use the expression jaune pétant.
Meaning: having yellow as its color (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, jaune is invariable in gender, so it remains the same whether describing a masculine or feminine noun. To agree with plural nouns, add an 's' to form jaunes.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒon/
Did you know?
- In French, the expression jaune is sometimes used as a slang term for a traitor or someone who betrays their colleagues, particularly in the context of labor strikes.
- In French culture, the Gilets Jaunes or 'Yellow Vests' became a global symbol of protest because the high-visibility yellow jacket is a mandatory safety item for all motorists in France.
- The word jaune actually traces its roots back to the Latin word galbinus, which originally referred to a specific shade of green or yellowish-green.
Examples in context
- Le feu est jaune.The light is yellow.This sentence shows how to use jaune to describe a light.Tatoeba #10188617 by felix63, translation #10188614 by CM
- Le livre est jaune.The book is yellow.This sentence shows how to use jaune to describe a book.Tatoeba #7778359 by tras, translation #5256981 by solejar
- Le fruit est jaune.The fruit is yellow.This sentence shows how to use jaune to describe a fruit.Tatoeba #8602635 by Aiji, translation #2898167 by AlanF_US
- La fleur est jaune.The flower is yellow.
- Le mur est peint de couleur jaune pâle.The wall is painted in a pale yellow color.
- Cette robe est super jaune!This dress is super yellow!
- 139 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are looking at a piece of clothing in a shop.
- LéaEst-ce que ce pull est jaune ?Is this sweater yellow?
- NathanNon, il est plutôt orange.No, it is more orange.
- LéaAh, je cherche un modèle jaune.Ah, I am looking for a yellow model.
- NathanRegarde, il y a un modèle jaune là-bas.Look, there is a yellow model over there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yellow” translations and entries jaune, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jaune, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
