épais
/e.pɛ/
The English word 'thick' can be translated into French as épais. If unsure, use épais. Wiktionary also lists gros.
Meaning: relatively great in extent from one surface to another (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| épais | /e.pɛ/ |
| gros | /ɡʁo/ |
The word épais is the standard term for describing the density of liquids (like soup), the texture of hair/beards or the physical thickness of objects (like glass or books). You can use it in phrases such as cheveux épais (thick hair) or accent épais (thick accent). To say something is 'too thick', you would use trop épais.
Which one should you use?
While épais refers to the physical dimension or density of an object, gros is often used to describe something large, heavy or even 'fat' in a colloquial sense.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form épais changes to the feminine form épaisse when describing a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /e.pɛ/.
Did you know?
- The word gros is used in the phrase à gros mots to describe using 'thick' or 'heavy' words, which actually means swearing or using profanity.
- The Latin root of épais, 'spissus', is also the ancestor of the English word 'sparse', meaning the two words are essentially opposites born from the same source.
- The word gros is used in the expression gros plan to mean a 'close-up' in cinematography, rather than referring to a large physical object.
Examples in context
- La soupe est épaisse.The soup is thick.This sentence is useful for describing the consistency of soup using épais.Tatoeba #4548527 by sacredceltic, translation #60991 by CK
- Il a une barbe épaisse.He's got a thick beard.This sentence is useful for describing a beard using épais.Tatoeba #10907895 by lbdx, translation #454749 by FeuDRenais
- Il porte des verres épais.He wears thick glasses.This sentence is useful for describing the thickness of glasses using épais.Tatoeba #132013 by nimfeo, translation #296251 by CK
- Le livre a des pages épaissesThe book has thick pages
- La muraille de la forteresse est imposante et épaisseThe fortress wall is imposing and thick
- 85 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are shopping for home decor.
- NathanEst-ce que ce tapis est épais ?Is this rug thick?
- EmmaOui, il est très épais et confortable.Yes, it is very thick and comfortable.
- NathanC'est parfait pour le salon.It is perfect for the living room.
- EmmaAlors, prenons-le, Nathan.Then let's take it, Nathan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thick” translations and entries épais, gros, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gros, épais, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
