Short answer
“beautiful” in French is beau
How to say beautiful in French?
In French, the most common way to say beautiful is “beau” for masculine nouns and “belle” for feminine nouns, pronounced “boh” and “bel”. Before a masculine noun that starts with a vowel or silent h, use the form “bel”, as in “un bel homme”. How to say beautiful in French depends on the noun’s gender, because French adjectives agree with the word they describe. Use “beau” with masculine nouns (“un beau paysage”) and “belle” with feminine ones (“une belle vue”). This page covers the three forms, common collocations, and typical learner mistakes.
Common pairings
un bel hommeune belle femmebeau tempsbelle journéetrès beau / très bellec’est beau
How to use it
- Adjectives in French agree with the noun they describe: use “beau” for masculine nouns and “belle” for feminine nouns. For example: “un beau garçon” but “une belle fille”.
- Before a masculine singular noun that begins with a vowel or a silent h, “beau” changes to “bel”: “un bel ami”, “un bel hôtel”. No similar change happens for “belle”.
- For a lighter meaning, “joli(e)” means pretty or cute, while “magnifique” is a stronger, more intense way to say beautiful. “Beau/belle” remains the neutral all-purpose choice.
Examples
Quel beau coucher de soleil !
What a beautiful sunset!
“beau” stays masculine because “coucher de soleil” is masculine. Pronounce it like “boh”.
C’est une très belle ville.
It’s a very beautiful city.
“belle” is the feminine form used with “ville”, a feminine noun. “très belle” = very beautiful.
Regarde ce bel oiseau.
Look at that beautiful bird.
“bel” is used even though “oiseau” is masculine, because it begins with a vowel sound.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| une |
une belle femme | “femme” is feminine, so the adjective must be “belle”, not “beau”. French adjectives always agree in gender. |
| un |
un bel oiseau | “beau” becomes “bel” before a masculine singular noun that starts with a vowel sound. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| une |
une très belle idée | “belle” is usually placed before the noun in French. The postposed version is understandable but sounds unnatural in everyday conversation. |
FAQ
- How to say beautiful in French?The most common translation is “beau” for masculine nouns and “belle” for feminine nouns, pronounced “boh” and “bel”. Use “bel” before a masculine noun that starts with a vowel, such as “un bel homme”.
- When do I use “beau” instead of “bel”?Use “beau” before masculine singular nouns that start with a consonant: “un beau château”, “un beau garçon”. Use “bel” before a vowel or silent h: “un bel ami”, “un bel hôtel”.
- Can I say “beau” to describe a woman?No. If the noun is feminine, you must use “belle”: “une belle femme”. Saying “une beau femme” is a grammar mistake because the adjective must agree with the noun’s gender.
- Are there other French words for beautiful?Yes. “joli(e)” means pretty or lovely, while “magnifique” and “ravissant(e)” mean magnificent or gorgeous and are more emphatic than “beau/belle”.