belle fille
The English phrase "beautiful girl" is translated into French as belle fille.
The phrase is used to describe a girl or a young woman who is physically attractive.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the adjective belle (beautiful) precedes the noun fille (girl).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use beau fille instead of the feminine belle fille.
Did you know?
- Because the word fille can also be a slang term for a prostitute, calling a woman a belle fille can sometimes sound strangely outdated or even slightly suggestive depending on the context.
- If you were to say 'ma belle fille' to a person in France, you might actually be saying 'my beautiful daughter' instead of 'my beautiful girl'.
- The word fille shares the same Latin root, 'fīlia', as the English word 'filial', which relates to the duties or feelings of a child toward a parent.
Examples in context
- C'est une très belle fille.She's a very beautiful girl.This sentence is useful for showing how to use belle fille to describe someone in the third person.Tatoeba #134437 by dominiko, translation #2534598 by _undertoad
- Tu es une très belle fille.You're a very beautiful girl.This sentence is useful for showing how to use belle fille when speaking directly to someone.Tatoeba #11181852 by Aiji, translation #6261710 by CK
- Il fut distrait par la belle fille.He was distracted by the beautiful girl.This sentence is useful for showing how to use belle fille in a past tense context.Tatoeba #2180452 by sacredceltic, translation #2179393 by Hybrid
- Mademoiselle, vous êtes une belle jeune fille. Votre élégance est remarquable.Miss, you are a beautiful young girl. Your elegance is remarkable.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo is talking about a girl he saw at a cafe.
- ManonTu as vu la fille là-bas ?Did you see the girl over there?
- HugoOui, c'est une très belle fille.Yes, she is a very beautiful girl.
- ManonElle a un style magnifique.She has a magnificent style.
- HugoC'est vrai, elle est charmante.That's true, she is charming.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fille, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
