le pâle
pale
Qui a une couleur moins vive que d’habitude, souvent parce qu’on est fatigué ou malade.
Definition & meaning
Pâle means pale or light in color. It can describe:
- A person’s complexion, especially when they look ill, tired, or frightened.
- A color or light that is faint or not intense.
- Figuratively, something lacking strength or brilliance, such as an imitation.
Grammar & Word origin
Pâle is an adjective with the same form in the masculine and feminine singular. Its plural is pâles. It usually follows the noun.
It comes from Latin pallidus, meaning “pale.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- blafard — pale in a sickly or ghostly way; more negative than pâle.
- clair — light in color; a broader term that does not necessarily imply lack of intensity.
- terne — dull or lacking brightness, rather than simply pale.
- coloré — colorful or having color; an antonym in some contexts.
- vif — vivid or bright, the opposite of pale when describing colors.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Elle a le visage pâle.adjective
She has a pale face.
Son teint paraît pâle aujourd'hui.adjective
His complexion looks pale today.
Les fleurs pâles décorent la table du salon.adjective
The pale flowers decorate the living room table.
Après la maladie, ses lèvres sont restées pâles pendant plusieurs jours.adjective
After the illness, his lips remained pale for several days.
Pourquoi le ciel est-il si pâle ce matin ?adjective
Why is the sky so pale this morning?
Sous la pluie, les couleurs de l’affiche sont devenues pâles.adjective
In the rain, the poster’s colors became pale.
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