adorable
/a.dɔ.ʁabl/
The English phrase "adorable" can be translated into French as adorable or mignon.
Meaning: befitting of being adored (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| adorable | /a.dɔ.ʁabl/ |
| mignon | /mi.ɲɔ̃/ |
In French, the word adorable is used to describe something or someone that is befitting of being adored.
Which one should you use?
The two main forms have different nuances. Use mignon to focus on physical cuteness or a sweet appearance. Use adorable to emphasize a person's charming or lovely character and behavior.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective adorable is epicene, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine subjects. For the other term, mignon is the masculine form and its feminine form is mignonne.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /a.dɔ.ʁabl/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In historical French courts, mignons were the pampered favorites of kings, specifically those of Henry III in the 16th century. These men were known for their extravagant fashion and close emotional bonds with the monarch.
- The word mignon shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'mind'. Both come from the Proto-Indo-European root *men-, linking the idea of being cute to the act of thinking or remembering.
- Though adorable is used for both genders, the phrase c'est adorable is frequently used as a polite way to thank someone for a small favor. In this context, it describes the gesture as 'sweet' rather than the person as 'cute'.
Examples in context
- Le bébé est mignon.The baby is adorable.This sentence shows how to use mignon to describe a baby.Tatoeba #6393435 by felix63, translation #6480266 by Micsmithel
- Le chat est adorable.The cat is adorable.This sentence shows how to use adorable to describe a cat.Tatoeba #458919 by sacredceltic, translation #487303 by adjusting
- N'est-ce pas adorable ?Isn't that adorable?This sentence shows how to use adorable in a rhetorical question.Tatoeba #8391211 by Aiji, translation #1886868 by CK
- Elle est vraiment mignonne dans cette robe.She looks really adorable in that dress.
- Ce chien est trop mignon!This dog is so adorable!
- Ton nouveau bébé est absolument adorable!Your new baby is absolutely adorable!
- Regarde cette vidéo, c'est trop adorable!Watch this video, it's so adorable!
- Il est tellement chou dans cette tenue.He looks so adorable in that outfit.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are looking at a photo of a puppy.
- ManonRegarde ce petit chien, il est adorable !Look at this little dog, he is adorable!
- GabrielOui, il est vraiment adorable.Yes, he is truly adorable.
- ManonJe veux l'adopter, il est trop adorable.I want to adopt him, he is too adorable.
- GabrielTu as raison, il est adorable.You are right, he is adorable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “adorable” translations and entries adorable, mignon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adorable, mignon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
