tu es beau
In French, "you look good" is expressed as tu es beau.
This phrase is used to compliment someone on their physical attractiveness. While English speakers often use the verb "to look" to describe appearance, this French expression is used to state that the person is handsome or beautiful.
Which one should you use?
While the English phrase "you look good" focuses on the act of looking a certain way, the French phrase tu es beau literally translates to "you are handsome/beautiful".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using tu regardes bien to mean someone looks good. This is a common error for English speakers because it actually means "you are looking/watching well".
Did you know?
- Using tu es beau with someone you should address as vous can be interpreted as an intentional act of intimacy or a provocative social slight.
- In France, telling someone tu es beau may be seen as too direct or intimate for a casual acquaintance, where tu es élégant is preferred to compliment their style.
- While beau means handsome, the French have a specific term beau gosse to describe a 'hot guy' or a 'heartthrob' in slang.
Examples in context
- Tu es beau en kimono.You look good in a kimono.This example shows how to compliment someone's appearance while wearing a specific garment using tu es beau.Tatoeba #594131 by sacredceltic, translation #68850 by CK
- Tu es beau sur cette photo.You look good in this picture.This example shows how to compliment someone's appearance in a photograph using tu es beau.Tatoeba #3892624 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #2701514 by CM
- Salut Marie, tu es super canon aujourd'hui.Hey Marie, you look incredibly great today.
- Oh, merci ! Toi aussi, tu as l'air bien.Oh, thank you! You look good too.
- Tu es beau ce soir.You look good tonight.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are getting ready for a party.
- LéaTu es prêt pour la soirée, Gabriel ?Are you ready for the party, Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, je pense que je suis prêt.Yes, I think I am ready.
- LéaWow, tu es beau !Wow, you look good!
- GabrielMerci beaucoup, Léa.Thank you very much, Léa.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
