tendre
/tɑ̃dʁ/
In French, the word for "tender" is tendre.
The adjective tendre is used to describe things that are soft and easily chewed, such as meat or vegetables. It is also used in an emotional sense. If you want to describe something as soft or spongy, such as a baked good or a dessert, the word moelleux is more appropriate.
Meaning: soft and easily chewed (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective tendre remains the same in both its masculine and feminine forms. To make the adjective plural, you add an -s to the end to form tendres.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɑ̃dʁ/
Did you know?
- The word tendre is also a verb meaning 'to stretch' or 'to tighten'. While they look identical, the verb refers to physical tension rather than softness.
- The word tendre shares a common ancestor with the English word 'tension', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to stretch'.
- In French, a 'tender' embrace is often called un câlin tendre. The word câlin has no direct single-word equivalent in English but combines the ideas of a hug, a cuddle and a snuggle.
Examples in context
- Le bœuf est tendre.This beef is tender.This example is useful for describing the texture of beef using tendre.Tatoeba #6465595 by Aiji, translation #59703 by CK
- Elle a le cœur tendre.She has a tender heart.This example shows how to describe a tender heart using tendre.Tatoeba #8950709 by lbdx, translation #315114 by CK
- La viande était tendre.The meat was tender.This example is useful for describing the texture of meat using tendre.Tatoeba #8950706 by lbdx, translation #7070546 by Hybrid
- Cette tarte aux pommes est moelleuse et tendre.This apple pie is soft and tender.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are eating dinner together.
- ManonEst-ce que le poulet est tendre ?Is the chicken tender?
- GabrielOui, il est très tendre et juteux.Yes, it is very tender and juicy.
- ManonC'est parfait, Gabriel !It's perfect, Gabriel!
- GabrielJe suis content que tu aimes.I am glad that you like it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tender” translations and entries tendre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tendre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
