délices
The English phrase "delights" is translated into French as délices.
délices refers to things that provide great pleasure or satisfaction, particularly high-quality foods. It is frequently used in the phrase les délices de… (the delights of…) to describe sensory pleasures such as nature or food. For specific contexts, you might use Les plaisirs culinaires for culinary delights, Les délices sucrés for sweet delights or Les joies de la vie to mean the joys of life.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
délices carries a literary or elevated tone. It is common in poetic contexts or in high-end culinary descriptions.
How does it change in a sentence?
délices is a plural noun and is almost always used in its plural form when referring to sources of pleasure. While the singular form délice exists, it is much less common than the plural form when describing pleasant experiences or foods.
Did you know?
- In classical French literature, délices was frequently employed as a polite euphemism for erotic or romantic pleasures.
- While délices describes pleasure, French has a specific term gourmandise that blends the idea of 'delights' with the act of gluttony or a love for sweets.
- If you are describing the 'delights of the soul', French speakers will rarely use délices and will instead use joies, as délices is almost strictly reserved for physical or sensory gratification.
Examples in context
- Les délices du corps hantent mes rêves.The delights of the body haunt my dreams.This sentence uses délices to describe delights of the body.Tatoeba #13316313 by menaud, translation #13316516 by menaud
- Ô temps ! suspends ton vol, et vous, heures propices ! Suspendez votre cours : laissez-nous savourer les rapides délices des plus beaux de nos jours !O time, suspend your flight! and you, happy hours, suspend your race: let us savor the fleeting delights of our fairest days!This sentence uses délices to describe the fleeting delights of certain days.Tatoeba #1548589 by Scott, translation #1548590 by Scott
- J'ai visité Paris et j'ai découvert de nombreux plaisirs culinaires.I visited Paris and discovered many culinary delights.
- Les joies de la gastronomie française sont célèbres dans le monde entier.The delights of French gastronomy are famous worldwide.
- On se retrouve ce soir pour partager des plaisirs culinaires ?Shall we meet tonight to share some culinary delights?
- Les délices de la vie parisienne sont inoubliables.The delights of Parisian life are unforgettable.
- Cette nouvelle série télévisée est un régal à regarder.This new TV series is a delight to watch.
- Ces pâtisseries sont de véritables délices.These pastries are true delights.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are tasting desserts at a bakery.
- HugoManon, goûte ces petits fours.Manon, taste these little cakes.
- ManonOh, quels délices !Oh, what delights!
- HugoIls sont très sucrés, n'est-ce pas ?They are very sweet, aren't they?
- ManonOui, ils sont absolument délicieux.Yes, they are absolutely delicious.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
