tu es magnifique
In French, "you look beautiful" is expressed as tu es magnifique.
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that they are very attractive or lovely in appearance. It is a stronger compliment than tu es jolie (you are pretty) or tu es belle (you are beautiful).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tu es magnifique literally translates to "you are magnificent".
Which one should you use?
Other forms can change the nuance and the level of formality. For example, tu es superbe means "you look superb" and is used informally, while tu es canon is a colloquial way to say "you look great".
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to someone you do not know well, a superior or a group of people, use vous êtes magnifique instead of tu es magnifique. Note that while magnifique is the same for both genders, if you were using an adjective like belle (beautiful), you would use tu es belle for a woman and tu es beau for a man.
Did you know?
- The colloquial phrase tu es canon literally means 'you are a cannon'. It is used to describe someone as strikingly attractive or 'hot'.
- While English uses the verb 'look' to comment on an outfit, French uses être ('to be'). This implies the beauty is an inherent quality of the person rather than just a temporary visual impression.
- The word magnifique is a 'learned borrowing', meaning it was plucked directly from Latin by scholars rather than evolving through common spoken French.
Examples in context
- Tu es magnifique ce soir.You look beautiful this evening.This sentence is useful for saying you look beautiful this evening using tu es magnifique.Tatoeba #6736782 by Aiji, translation #2045821 by CK
- Tu es magnifique dans cette robe.You look beautiful in that dress.This sentence is useful for saying you look beautiful in a specific dress using tu es magnifique.Tatoeba #8013817 by Aiji, translation #2045828 by CK
- Cette robe te met en valeur, tu es magnifiqueThis dress highlights your beauty, you look magnificent
- Tu es belle comme une fleurYou are beautiful like a flower
- Madame, vous êtes ravissante ce soirMadam, you look stunning tonight
- Tu es canon dans cette tenueYou look great in that outfit
- Cette robe te met en valeur, tu es vraiment magnifiqueThis dress highlights your beauty, you look truly magnificent
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are getting ready for a party.
- LéaNathan, tu es prêt pour sortir ?Nathan, are you ready to go out?
- NathanOui, et toi, tu es magnifique !Yes, and you look beautiful!
- LéaC'est gentil, merci beaucoup.That's kind, thank you very much.
- NathanOn y va ?Shall we go?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries magnifique, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
