noble
/nɔbl/
The English word 'noble' can be translated into French as noble.
The term is used to describe someone or something having honorable qualities.
Meaning: having honorable qualities (adj)
Which one should you use?
The word noble can function as both an adjective meaning 'honorable' and a noun meaning 'aristocrat'. While they are spelled the same, the noun version is often used with an article, such as un noble or les nobles.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective noble is the same in both masculine and feminine forms. To form the plural, simply add an -s to get nobles.
How do you pronounce it?
/nɔbl/
Did you know?
- In French literature and history, la noblesse de robe refers to a class of nobles who earned their title through judicial or administrative service rather than through military heritage.
- While noble describes honor, French uses the term noblesse oblige to describe the social obligation of those with high status to act with generosity and courtesy toward others.
- In historical French literature, a character described as having un air noble refers specifically to their physical carriage and posture, not just their character.
Examples in context
- Il a du sang de noble.He is of noble blood.This sentence is useful for mentioning noble blood using noble.Tatoeba #8537620 by Aiji, translation #7741478 by AlanF_US
- Il est de noble lignée.He is of noble ancestry.This sentence is useful for mentioning noble ancestry using noble.Tatoeba #431511 by qdii, translation #296389 by qdii
- Le néon est un gaz noble.Neon is a noble gas.This sentence is useful for describing a noble gas using noble.Tatoeba #4585431 by dadidas, translation #7741474 by AlanF_US
- Sa conduite est noble et admirable.His/Her conduct is noble and admirable.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a character in a novel.
- HugoCe personnage est vraiment noble.This character is truly noble.
- EmmaOui, son geste est noble.Yes, his gesture is noble.
- HugoIl a un esprit noble.He has a noble spirit.
- EmmaC'est une belle qualité.It is a beautiful quality.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “noble” translations and entries noble, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
