How to Say "Vanity" in French

vanité

/va.ni.te/feminine

The English word "vanity" is translated into French as vanité.

vanité is a noun used to describe excessive pride.

Meaning: excessive pride (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

As a feminine noun, vanité is preceded by the feminine article la or the possessive adjective sa.

vanité is pronounced /va.ni.te/ and has 3 syllables.

Unlike the English word 'vanity', which can refer to a dressing table with a mirror, the French vanité is never used to describe furniture.
In French art history, a 'Vanité' refers to a specific genre of still life paintings that feature skulls or rotting fruit to remind viewers of their mortality.
The word vanité comes from the Latin vānitātem, which literally means 'emptiness'.

Sa vanité ne connaît pas de frontières.
Her vanity knows no bounds.
This sentence shows how to use vanité.
Tatoeba #809725 by sacredceltic, translation #663007 by darinmex
C'est une grande mortification pour la vanité de l'homme, que son art et son industrie les plus élevés ne puissent jamais égaler la plus misérable des productions de la nature, tant en beauté qu'en valeur.
It is a great mortification to the vanity of man, that his utmost art and industry can never equal the meanest of nature's productions, either for beauty or value.
This sentence uses vanité in a context regarding the vanity of man.
Tatoeba #4573596 by sacredceltic, translation #714761 by Scott
Sa vanité est sans limites
His vanity is boundless
Son orgueil se reflète dans chacun de ses gestes
His vanity is reflected in every gesture
Elle adore se mirer dans le miroir, une vraie coquetterie
She loves gazing at herself in the mirror, a true vanity
Il est d'une fatuité déconcertante
He is remarkably vain
Il ne fait que frimer avec sa nouvelle voiture
He keeps showing off with his new car
Il se la pète vraiment!
He's really showing off!
C'est vraiment de la vanité pure et simple
It's really pure and simple vanity
10 more sentences on Tatoeba

Emma is criticizing a coworker's behavior at a party.

Hugo

Sa vanité est vraiment agaçante.
His vanity is truly annoying.
Emma

C'est vrai, il parle tout le temps de lui.
It's true, he talks about himself all the time.
Hugo

Il cherche désespérément l'attention de tout le monde.
He is desperately seeking everyone's attention.
Emma

Oui, il est très centré sur lui-même.
Yes, he is very self-centered.

Sources

Wiktionary, “vanity” translations and entries vanité, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries vanité, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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