jardin d'Éden
/ʒaʁ.dɛ̃ d‿e.dɛn/masculine
The English phrase Garden of Eden is translated into French as jardin d'Éden. Wiktionary also lists Éden.
Meaning: place where Adam and Eve first lived (name)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| jardin d'Éden | /ʒaʁ.dɛ̃ d‿e.dɛn/ | masculine |
| Éden | /e.dɛn/ | masculine |
This phrase refers to the place where Adam and Eve first lived.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of jardin (garden) and d'Éden (of Eden), where the d' is a contraction of the preposition de (of) used before a vowel.
Which one should you use?
While jardin d'Éden refers specifically to the garden, the word Éden can be used alone to refer to the place or to a state of paradise or bliss.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun jardin is masculine, so it is preceded by the masculine definite article le when referring to 'the Garden of Eden' as le jardin d'Éden.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒaʁ.dɛ̃ d‿e.dɛn/
Did you know?
- The word jardin comes from an Old Frankish root meaning 'enclosure', reflecting a time when gardens were defined by their fences rather than their plants.
- In French, using Éden to describe a place of bliss often implies a sense of lost innocence or a purity that cannot be recovered.
- While jardin d'Éden is the literal name, French speakers often use the term paradis terrestre (earthly paradise) to evoke the same imagery in a more poetic or secular context.
Examples in context
- Les serpents ont mauvaise réputation depuis l'épisode du jardin d'Éden.Serpents have had a bad rap ever since the Garden of Eden.This sentence uses jardin d'Éden to provide historical context for the reputation of serpents.Tatoeba #14044615 by Myrano_, translation #526867 by darinmex
- Ils ont décrit le jardin d'Éden avec passion.They described the garden of Eden with passion.
- On raconte que le jardin d'Éden était magnifique.They say the garden of Eden was magnificent.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a painting in a museum.
- EmmaQue représente ce tableau, Gabriel ?What does this painting represent, Gabriel?
- GabrielC'est une scène du jardin d'Éden.It is a scene from the garden of Eden.
- EmmaOn peut voir le serpent et la pomme.You can see the snake and the apple.
- GabrielOui, c'est le début de l'histoire.Yes, it is the beginning of the story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “garden of eden” translations and entries jardin d'Éden, Éden, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jardin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
