clair de lune
/klɛʁ də lyn/masculine
Moonlight in French is translated as clair de lune.
The term clair de lune refers to the light reflected from the Moon. While English uses a single compound word, French uses this noun phrase to express the same concept.
Meaning: light reflected from the Moon (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally breaks down to clair (brightness or light) and de lune (of the moon).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say you are 'in' the moonlight, use the contraction au clair de lune (a combination of à and le).
Did you know?
- The word clair comes from a Latin root meaning 'to shout' or 'to call', which originally described something loud and clear.
- The phrase au clair de la lune is the title of a famous 18th-century French folk song about a girl who cannot find her chestnuts in the moonlight.
- While clair de lune describes the light, the French word clairière refers to a clearing in a forest where light reaches the ground.
Examples in context
- Le clair de lune inonda la pièce.Moonlight flooded the room.This sentence shows how moonlight can flood a space using clair de lune.Tatoeba #11214622 by lbdx, translation #9105737 by Lebensfreude
- Nous avons nagé au clair de lune.We swam in the moonlight.This sentence illustrates the use of the phrase to describe swimming under the moonlight.Tatoeba #11214628 by lbdx, translation #5395078 by Hybrid
- Les fées dansèrent au clair de lune.The fairies danced in the moonlight.This sentence shows how the phrase is used to describe dancing in the moonlight.Tatoeba #3532200 by sacredceltic, translation #3529401 by Hybrid
- J'adore me promener sous le clair de lune.I love taking walks under the moonlight.
- La douce lumière de la lune éclaire la pièce.The gentle light of the moon illuminates the room.
- On s'est retrouvés, baignés dans la lune.We met, bathed in moonlight.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are sitting on a balcony at night.
- GabrielRegarde ce beau clair de lune.Look at this beautiful moonlight.
- EmmaC'est vraiment magnifique, Gabriel.It is truly magnificent, Gabriel.
- GabrielLe clair de lune éclaire toute la vallée.The moonlight lights up the whole valley.
- EmmaC'est une nuit très calme.It is a very calm night.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moonlight” translations and entries clair de lune, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clair, de, lune, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
