hâlé par le soleil
The English phrase "sun kissed" is translated into French as hâlé par le soleil.
The phrase is used to describe someone having a golden-brown glow on their skin from spending time in the sun. You may also encounter the formal expression Teint hâlé to mean "tanned complexion".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the past participle hâlé (tanned or browned) and the prepositional phrase par le soleil (by the sun).
Which one should you use?
While hâlé par le soleil is a more poetic or literary way to say "sun-kissed", the more common, everyday way to say "tanned" is bronzé par le soleil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle must agree with the gender and number of the person or noun being described. Use hâlée par le soleil when describing a woman or a feminine noun, hâlés par le soleil for a group of people or a masculine plural noun and hâlées par le soleil for a group of women or a feminine plural noun.
Did you know?
- In French, the expression for being 'burnt' by the sun uses the word coup de soleil, which literally translates to a 'blow of the sun'.
- The word soleil comes from a Vulgar Latin diminutive form, meaning it originally described the sun as a 'little sun'.
- While hâlé describes a sun-kissed glow, French uses the word bronzé for a general tan, which literally means 'bronzed' like the metal.
Examples in context
- Elle est bronzéeShe is sun kissed
- Il a le teint hâléHe has a sun-kissed complexion
- Elle est resplendissante avec un joli teint bronzéShe looks radiant with a nice sun-kissed complexion
- Elle a un teint hâlé par le soleil.She has a sun-kissed complexion.
- Tu as le visage hâlé par le soleil.You have a sun kissed face.
- Il revient de vacances, tout hâlé par le soleil.He is returning from vacation, all sun kissed.
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are meeting after a summer vacation.
- EmmaSalut Lucas ! Tu es revenu de vacances ?Hi Lucas! Are you back from vacation?
- LucasOui, je viens de rentrer d'Italie.Yes, I just got back from Italy.
- EmmaC'est visible, tu es tout hâlé par le soleil !It shows, you are all sun-kissed!
- LucasMerci, j'ai passé beaucoup de temps à la plage.Thanks, I spent a lot of time at the beach.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries le, par, soleil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
