bas
/ba/
The French word for low is bas.
If you are referring to an area of low pressure or a depressed mood, the noun dépression is used instead.
Meaning: small in height (adj)
Which one should you use?
While bas means low in position or volume, petit is the standard adjective used to describe a person who is short in stature.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective bas must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, becoming basse in the feminine form. The adjective bas remains spelled the same in its masculine plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ba/
Did you know?
- While an English speaker says 'keep a low profile', the French use the phrase faire le dos rond, which literally means 'to make one's back round' like a cat.
- The word bas can also refer to stockings, as it is a shortened version of bas-de-chausses, meaning 'low-hose'.
- The French phrase à bas is used as a shout of protest, similar to saying 'down with' a certain leader or regime.
Examples in context
- Fais profil bas !Keep your head low.This sentence uses bas to illustrate the idiom for keeping a low profile.Tatoeba #4195519 by sacredceltic, translation #3729286 by CM
- C'est un coup bas.That's a low blow.This sentence uses bas to describe a low blow.Tatoeba #2079305 by sacredceltic, translation #2077773 by Spamster
- Le son est trop bas.The volume is too low.This sentence uses bas to describe a low volume of sound.Tatoeba #8882355 by Julien_PDC, translation #11184937 by sundown
- Le prix est bas cette semaine.The price is low this week.
- Il est tombé plus bas dans le classement.He fell lower in the rankings.
- Le signal est faible dans cette zone.The signal is weak in this area.
- Les chances de succès sont faibles .The chances of success are low.
- C'est une excuse minable .That's a pathetic excuse.
- La performance de l'équipe était minable .The team's performance was pitiful.
- 89 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are looking at a low garden wall.
- LucasCe mur est très bas.This wall is very low.
- ManonOui, il est assez bas.Yes, it is quite low.
- LucasTu peux sauter par-dessus ?Can you jump over it?
- ManonOui, il est vraiment bas.Yes, it is really low.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “low” translations and entries bas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
