eau bleue claire
The English phrase "clear blue water" is translated into French as eau bleue claire.
The phrase is used to describe water that is both transparent and blue in color.
Which one should you use?
Eau limpide et bleue is a formal way to say 'clear blue water', and Eau d'un bleu cristallin is a formal way to express the crystalline quality of water.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because eau (water) is a feminine noun, the adjectives bleue and claire must take the feminine singular endings -e.
Did you know?
- The word eau shares a common ancestor with the Old English word ēa, meaning a 'flowing river' or 'stream'.
- While eau bleue claire is common, French speakers often use limpide to describe water that is so clear it is almost invisible.
- While English uses 'clear' to describe transparency, the French adjective claire can also mean 'light' in terms of brightness or color intensity.
Examples in context
- L'eau limpide et bleue de cet océan est tout simplement époustouflante.The clear blue water of this ocean is simply breathtaking.
- Oui, l'eau claire et bleue offre un panorama magnifique que nous ne devrions pas prendre pour acquis.Yes, the clear blue water offers a magnificent panorama that we should not take for granted.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are looking at a photo of a tropical beach.
- ChloéRegarde l'eau bleue claire sur cette photo.Look at the clear blue water in this photo.
- LucasC'est magnifique, je veux y aller.It's magnificent, I want to go there.
- ChloéL'eau bleue claire est parfaite pour plonger.The clear blue water is perfect for diving.
- LucasOn réserve nos billets demain ?Shall we book our tickets tomorrow?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
