How to Say "Optical Illusion" in French

illusion d'optique

/i.ly.zjɔ̃ d‿ɔp.tik/feminine

The English phrase 'optical illusion' is illusion d'optique in French.

This term is used to describe an image that is visually deceptive or misleading.

Meaning: image that is visually deceptive or misleading (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of illusion (illusion) and d'optique (of optics/optical).

The French term for trick of the eye is trompe-l'œil.

The noun illusion is feminine, so the indefinite article une is used in the phrase une illusion d'optique.

While illusion d'optique describes a visual error, the French use the word mirage metaphorically to describe an unattainable dream or a false hope that vanishes as one approaches it.
The word illusion is derived from the Latin illusiōnem, which carried the connotation of mocking or playing a joke on someone.
The word optique comes from the Greek optikos, which refers to the act of seeing, and it serves as the root for both the science of light and the physical equipment like glasses in French.

C'est une illusion d'optique.
It's an optical illusion.
This example shows how to identify an illusion d'optique.
Tatoeba #7281701 by tras, translation #2883711 by Hybrid
Ça semble plus long que ça, mais c'est une illusion d'optique.
This looks longer than that, but it is an optical illusion.
This sentence is useful for explaining that a perception is caused by an illusion d'optique.
Tatoeba #331114 by themiska, translation #55959 by CK
Une illusion d'optique fait paraître le second objet plus gros que le premier.
An optical illusion makes the second object look larger than the first.
This sentence describes how an illusion d'optique affects the perceived size of an object.
Tatoeba #8714291 by Aiji, translation #3486169 by AlanF_US
Cette peinture crée une illusion d'optique intéressante
This painting creates an interesting optical illusion
Ce phénomène d'illusion visuelle est encore largement étudié
This visual illusion phenomenon is still widely studied
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Emma and Hugo are looking at a website in a cafe.

Hugo

Regarde cette illusion d'optique sur mon téléphone.
Look at this optical illusion on my phone.
Emma

C'est impressionnant, on dirait que ça bouge.
It's impressive, it looks like it's moving.
Hugo

C'est juste une illusion d'optique très connue.
It is just a very well-known optical illusion.
Emma

Elle est vraiment très perturbante.
It is truly very unsettling.

Sources

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