anges de neige
The English phrase "snow angels" is translated into French as anges de neige.
anges de neige refers to the figures made in the snow by moving one's arms and legs while lying on one's back. To describe the actual activity of making them, you can use the informal phrase Faire des anges dans la neige.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is ange de neige. In the plural form anges de neige, only the noun anges takes the plural marker s.
Did you know?
- The French word for snow, neige, is actually a 'deverbal noun', meaning it was grammatically built from the verb neiger rather than starting as a standalone noun.
- The word neige is a relatively recent replacement in the French language, having displaced the older Old French word noif which came directly from the Latin 'nix'.
- In French, using the verb créer instead of faire when making anges de neige would sound like you are performing a divine act of creation.
Examples in context
- Les enfants ont fait des anges de neige dans le jardinThe children made snow angels in the garden
- On s'est allongé sur le sol et on a fait des anges dans la neigeWe lay down on the ground and made snow angels
- Hier, j'ai fait un ange dans la neige en montagneYesterday, I made a snow angel in the mountains
- Après avoir fait des anges dans la neige, nous avons joué à faire des batailles de boules de neigeAfter making snow angels, we played snowball fights
- Les enfants font des anges de neige dans le jardin.The children are making snow angels in the garden.
- Les enfants font des anges de neige.The children are making snow angels.
- On peut faire des anges de neige ensemble ?Can we make snow angels together?
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are playing in a park after a snowfall.
- LucasIl y a beaucoup de neige pour faire des anges de neige.There is plenty of snow to make snow angels.
- ManonOui, Lucas, amusons-nous un peu !Yes, Lucas, let's have some fun!
- LucasRegarde comme le mien est grand.Look how big mine is.
- ManonLe mien est plus joli que le tien.Mine is prettier than yours.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, neige, CC BY-SA 4.0.
