vernis
/vɛʁ.ni/masculine
The English word varnish is vernis in French.
vernis is a masculine noun referring to transparent paint. When talking specifically about nail polish, the standard phrase to use is vernis à ongles.
Meaning: transparent paint (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun vernis is derived from the verb vernir, which means to apply varnish. As a masculine noun, vernis is used with masculine articles such as le or du.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /vɛʁ.ni/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word vernis may trace its roots back to the name of the city 'Benghazi' in Libya via the Greek name 'Berenice'.
- In French, vernis is used as a metaphor for someone who is polished or sophisticated in their manners.
- The phrase un vernis can refer to a thin superficial layer of knowledge or skill that hides a lack of depth.
Examples in context
- Maman ne me laisse pas mettre du vernis à ongles.Mum doesn't let me wear nail varnish.This sentence is useful for seeing how to refer to vernis in the context of nail polish.Tatoeba #12867108 by lbdx, translation #5942685 by nicholas_martin
- un vernis brillantA glossy varnish
- J'ai besoin de vernis pour protéger ma nouvelle table en bois.I need varnish to protect my new wooden table.
- Tu as acheté quel vernis pour tes meubles ?Which varnish did you buy for your furniture?
- Nous devrions appliquer une couche de vernis sur cette étagère.We should apply a layer of varnish to this shelf.
- Il faut appliquer un vernis sur le bois.It is necessary to apply a varnish on the wood.
- Ce vieux meuble a besoin d'un nouveau vernis.This old piece of furniture needs a new varnish.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are renovating an old wooden chair.
- GabrielEst-ce que tu as acheté le vernis ?Did you buy the varnish?
- ManonOui, Manon a pris du vernis brillant.Yes, Manon got some glossy varnish.
- GabrielC'est parfait pour protéger le bois.That's perfect for protecting the wood.
- ManonOn peut commencer à peindre maintenant.We can start painting now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “varnish” translations and entries vernis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vernis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
