lueur
/lɥœʁ/feminine
The English word 'glimmer' can be translated into French as lueur.
lueur is a noun meaning a faint light. It is often used idiomatically in the phrase lueur d'espoir to express a 'glimmer of hope'. If you wish to describe the action of shining with a faint, unsteady light, you can use the phrase émettre une lueur.
Meaning: faint light (noun)
Which one should you use?
While lueur refers to a faint or unsteady light, it is distinct from éclat, which refers to a bright, sudden flash or brilliance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun lueur is feminine, so it is preceded by the feminine indefinite article une or the feminine definite article la. For example, you would say une lueur.
How do you pronounce it?
/lɥœʁ/
Did you know?
- In certain poetic contexts, une lueur can refer to a fleeting glance or a momentary look of understanding in someone's eyes.
- The word lueur shares the same Latin root as the English word 'lucid', which describes clarity or brightness.
- French writers often contrast lueur with ténèbres, the word for deep darkness, to create a dramatic symbolic opposition between hope and despair.
Examples in context
- C'était la seule lueur d'espoir.It was the only glimmer of hope.This sentence shows how to use lueur to mean a glimmer of hope.Tatoeba #1227324 by sacredceltic, translation #6831813 by Eccles17
- Il y a maintenant une lueur d'espoir.Now there is a glimmer of hope.Tatoeba #12503385 by sacredceltic, translation #12503384 by sacredceltic
- La lune, voilée par les nuages, éclairait la campagne d’une lueur égale et vague.The moon, veiled by the clouds, illuminated the countryside with a glimmer, equal and vague.This sentence uses lueur to describe a vague light from the moon.Tatoeba #5844601 by Blabla, translation #6831818 by Eccles17
- L'éclat des étoilesThe glimmer of the stars
- La lueur des bougies dansait délicatementThe glimmer of the candles danced delicately
- Ses yeux pétillaient d'un éclat de bonheurHer eyes shimmered with a glimmer of happiness
- La lueur légère du soleil à travers les arbresThe glimmer of sunlight through the trees
- La brillance discrète de la lune se reflétait sur le lacThe glimmer of the moon reflected on the lake
- Le phare émettait une lueur visible à des kilomètres de distance.The lighthouse emitted a glimmer visible for kilometers.
- Les bougies répandaient un éclat chaleureux dans la pièce.The candles spread a warm glimmer in the room.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are looking at the horizon at dusk.
- HugoRegarde cette petite lueur à l'horizon.Look at that little glimmer on the horizon.
- EmmaEst-ce une lumière de phare ?Is it a lighthouse light?
- HugoJe ne sais pas, elle est très faible.I don't know, it is very faint.
- EmmaC'est peut-être une étoile qui brille.Maybe it is a shining star.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glimmer” translations and entries lueur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lueur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
