La Joconde
feminine
The Mona Lisa is referred to in French as La Joconde.
In French, La Joconde is used specifically to refer to the famous artwork itself, whereas 'Mona Lisa' is understood as the English name for the same piece.
Meaning: portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The name is derived from the adjective joconde, which means cheerful, smiling or joyous.
Which one should you use?
While English speakers use the name 'Mona Lisa', the standard and most common way to refer to the painting in French is La Joconde. The related noun joconde can also be used to describe a woman who resembles the subject of the painting.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
La Joconde is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- In France, the name La Joconde is so deeply tied to the artwork that it serves as a synonym for a mysterious or ambiguous smile.
- The French name is a 'calque', which is a word-for-word translation of the Italian name 'La Gioconda'.
Examples in context
- La Joconde arbore un sourire énigmatique.The Mona Lisa has an enigmatic smile.This sentence is useful for describing the smile of La Joconde.Tatoeba #2329674 by sacredceltic, translation #2327236 by Hybrid
- La Joconde a été dérobée au Louvre en 1911.The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911.This sentence describes a historical event involving La Joconde.Tatoeba #11772810 by lbdx, translation #6116748 by Hybrid
- La Joconde a été peinte par Léonard de Vinci.The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.This sentence identifies the artist who painted La Joconde.Tatoeba #1183986 by sacredceltic, translation #870933 by CM
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are walking through a museum in Paris.
- ManonEst-ce qu'on peut voir La Joconde ici ?Can we see the Mona Lisa here?
- LucasOui, elle est dans la salle suivante.Yes, she is in the next room.
- ManonLa Joconde est vraiment petite en vrai.The Mona Lisa is really small in person.
- LucasC'est vrai, mais elle est magnifique.That's true, but she is magnificent.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mona lisa” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Joconde, joconde, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
