écarlate
/e.kaʁ.lat/
The English word scarlet is translated into French as écarlate.
écarlate is used to describe the color scarlet. It can function as an adjective to describe a noun or as a noun to refer to the color itself.
Meaning: colour (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, écarlate is invariable in gender, meaning it remains the same whether describing a masculine or feminine noun. It does take an s in its plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /e.kaʁ.lat/.
Did you know?
- The French écarlate is a linguistic relative of the English word 'seal'. Both trace back to the Latin sigillātum, referring to a cloth that was officially 'sealed' to certify its high quality.
- In French literature and idioms, écarlate is often used to describe a flush of extreme embarrassment or anger, such as être rouge écarlate.
- While écarlate describes a color, French adjectives of color that are derived from nouns usually do not change for gender or number.
Examples in context
- La robe qu'elle portait était d'un rouge écarlate magnifique.The dress she was wearing was a magnificent scarlet red.
- Elle porte une robe écarlate.She is wearing a scarlet dress.
- Le ciel est d'un rouge écarlate.The sky is a scarlet red.
- J'ai acheté un ruban écarlate.I bought a scarlet ribbon.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are looking at art in a gallery.
- HugoRegarde ce tableau avec des fleurs écarlates.Look at this painting with scarlet flowers.
- ChloéOh, elles sont magnifiques !Oh, they are magnificent!
- HugoLa couleur est vraiment intense.The color is really intense.
- ChloéJe suis d'accord, Hugo.I agree, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scarlet” translations and entries écarlate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries écarlate, CC BY-SA 4.0.
