lys
/lis/masculine
The English word lily is translated into French as lys.
The term refers to a flower belonging to the genus Lilium.
Meaning: flower in the genus Lilium (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/lis/
Did you know?
- In French heraldry, the fleur-de-lys is not actually a lily but is believed to be based on a yellow iris that grows in the marshes of France.
- The lys is the central symbol of the French monarchy. This stylized version is called the fleur-de-lys and appeared on royal banners and coats of arms for centuries.
- While lys is the name of the flower, French speakers often use lis as an alternative spelling. Historically, lys was the standard, but lis has become equally common in modern texts.
Examples in context
- J'adore les lys blancs, ils sont si élégants !I love white lilies, they are so elegant!
- C'est beau, ce bouquet de lys !This bouquet of lilies is beautiful!
- Le lys est une belle fleur.The lily is a beautiful flower.
- Il y a un lys blanc dans le vase.There is a white lily in the vase.
- J'aime beaucoup l'odeur du lys.I really love the scent of the lily.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are looking at a flower arrangement in a shop.
- GabrielRegarde ce magnifique lys, Léa.Look at this magnificent lily, Léa.
- LéaOui, il est très élégant.Yes, it is very elegant.
- GabrielEst-ce que tu veux l'acheter pour toi ?Do you want to buy it for yourself?
- LéaNon, je préfère les roses.No, I prefer roses.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lily” translations and entries lys, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
