beau
/bo/
The French word for handsome is beau.
The word beau is used to describe an attractive man. If you wish to describe someone as charming or alluring, you might use Séduisant(e) or use Élégant(e) to convey that someone is handsome in a refined and sophisticated way.
Meaning: of man: attractive (adj)
Which one should you use?
While beau is the primary word for handsome when referring to men, it is also the standard word for 'beautiful' when describing masculine nouns.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on gender and number: beau is the masculine singular form, belle is the feminine singular form, beaux is the masculine plural form and belles is the feminine plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/bo/
Did you know?
- The French phrase beaux-parents is used to refer to parents-in-law, literally translating to 'beautiful parents'.
- The phrase faire le beau describes someone who is showing off or acting vainly, regardless of whether they are actually handsome.
- In the 18th and 19th centuries, a beau was not just an adjective but a noun referring to a fashionable man about town who spent his time flirting and socializing.
Examples in context
- Il est si beau !He's so handsome.This sentence demonstrates the use of beau to describe a man's appearance.Tatoeba #3392319 by sacredceltic, translation #3391305 by Hybrid
- Tu as l'air beau.You look handsome.This sentence shows how to use beau to say someone looks handsome.Tatoeba #4653827 by sacredceltic, translation #2045753 by CK
- Il est très beau.He is very handsome.This sentence uses beau to indicate that a man is very handsome.Tatoeba #6465556 by Aiji, translation #400911 by CK
- Il est beauHe is handsome
- T'as vu le beau mec là-bas ? Il est vraiment canon !Have you seen the handsome guy over there? He's really hot!
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé is talking to Gabriel about a man they just saw.
- ChloéRegarde cet homme, il est vraiment beau.Look at that man, he is really handsome.
- GabrielC'est vrai, il a un style élégant.That's true, he has an elegant style.
- ChloéJe trouve qu'il est très beau avec ce costume.I think he is very handsome in that suit.
- GabrielJe suis d'accord avec toi, Chloé.I agree with you, Chloé.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “handsome” translations and entries beau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
