rouge à lèvres rouge
The English phrase "red lipstick" is translated into French as rouge à lèvres rouge.
The phrase refers to a cosmetic product used to color the lips in a shade of red.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase rouge à lèvres rouge is composed of rouge (red), à lèvres (for lips) and rouge (red), literally meaning "red for lips red".
Which one should you use?
While rouge à lèvres rouge is the full descriptive phrase, in casual conversation, French speakers often drop à lèvres rouge and simply use the word rouge to refer to lipstick.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun rouge is masculine, so if you are referring to a single item, you would use the indefinite article un to say un rouge à lèvres rouge.
Did you know?
- In France, the color of lipstick is so strongly associated with the word rouge that the term rouge à lèvres is used for any shade of lipstick, whether it is pink, purple or orange.
- In the early 20th century, the use of rouge à lèvres in public became a symbol of female liberation and rebellion in France, often associated with the 'garçonne' look of the 1920s.
- The word rouge is derived from the Latin rubeus, which is also the distant ancestor of the English word 'ruby'.
Examples in context
- J'adore ton rouge à lèvres rouge!I love your red lipstick!
- Tu peux me conseiller un bon rouge à lèvres rouge?Can you recommend a good red lipstick?
- Elle est magnifique avec ce rouge à lèvres rouge.She looks stunning with that red lipstick.
- Je cherche mon rouge à lèvres rouge.I am looking for my red lipstick.
- Ce rouge à lèvres rouge est magnifique.This red lipstick is magnificent.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are getting ready for a party.
- GabrielLéa, tu as vu mon rouge à lèvres rouge ?Léa, have you seen my red lipstick?
- LéaOui, il est sur la table.Yes, it is on the table.
- GabrielMerci, je veux l'utiliser ce soir.Thanks, I want to use it tonight.
- LéaC'est une très belle couleur.It is a very beautiful color.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rouge, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
