The word voile refers to either a head covering or a sail for a boat.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A piece of fabric covering the head or face.
- A canvas used to catch wind on a boat.
- A thin layer or screen obscuring vision.
Aperçu
Le terme « voile » est un nom masculin polysémique. Il possède deux acceptions principales : l'une vestimentaire (un tissu couvrant) et l'autre nautique (l'équipement d'un voilier). Il provient du latin 'velum'. 2) Modèles d'utilisation : En tant que vêtement, il est souvent utilisé avec des verbes comme 'porter' ou 'mettre'. Dans le domaine maritime, on utilise le verbe 'hisser' pour monter une voile. 3) Contextes courants : Le mot est très présent dans les débats sociétaux et religieux, mais aussi dans les activités de loisirs comme la navigation de plaisance. 4) Comparaison : Il ne faut pas le confondre avec 'voile' au féminin (une voile), qui désigne exclusivement la toile de bateau. Le masculin 'un voile' désigne le tissu léger, le rideau ou le vêtement.
Examples
Elle a mis un voile sur sa tête.
everydayShe put a veil on her head.
Le bateau a déployé ses voiles.
formalThe boat unfurled its sails.
Un voile de tristesse couvrait son visage.
informalA veil of sadness covered her face.
Le voile atmosphérique réduit la visibilité.
academicThe atmospheric haze reduces visibility.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Lever le voile
To lift the veil (reveal the truth)
À la voile
By sailboat
Faire de la voile
To go sailing
Often Confused With
A voilage specifically refers to thin, sheer curtains for windows, whereas voile is a more general term for fabric or sails.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word is masculine when referring to fabric or a veil. It is feminine when referring specifically to a nautical sail. In everyday speech, be careful with the gender as it changes the meaning entirely.
Common Mistakes
The most frequent error is using the wrong gender. Learners often use 'une voile' for a head covering, which is incorrect. Remember: 'Un' for the head, 'Une' for the boat.
Tips
Remember the gender difference
Think of 'un voile' as a piece of cloth you wear, and 'une voile' as the large sail on a boat.
Avoid confusion with veiller
Do not confuse the noun 'voile' with the verb 'veiller', which means to watch over or stay awake.
Cultural significance in France
The term is central to French public discourse regarding secularism and religious expression in schools and public spaces.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'velum', which meant a sail, a covering, or a curtain. It has retained these dual meanings in modern French.
Cultural Context
The veil holds significant cultural and political weight in France. It is often discussed in the context of the 'laïcité' (secularism) laws.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'v' for 'veil' (voile) on your head. For boats, think of the 'e' at the end of 'voile' as the wind filling the sail.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsLe mot est masculin quand il désigne un tissu couvrant le visage ou la tête. Il devient féminin quand il désigne la toile d'un bateau.
Oui, un 'voilage' ou un 'voile de fenêtre' désigne un tissu très fin et transparent pour tamiser la lumière. C'est un usage courant en décoration.
Non, le voile peut être un accessoire de mode, comme le voile de mariée. Il peut aussi désigner un élément figuré, comme un 'voile de mystère'.
On utilise souvent l'expression 'faire de la voile'. Ici, le mot est féminin car il fait référence à l'activité nautique.
Test Yourself
La mariée porte un ___ blanc très long.
Il s'agit ici du tissu masculin porté sur la tête.
Score: /1
Summary
The word voile refers to either a head covering or a sail for a boat.
- A piece of fabric covering the head or face.
- A canvas used to catch wind on a boat.
- A thin layer or screen obscuring vision.
Remember the gender difference
Think of 'un voile' as a piece of cloth you wear, and 'une voile' as the large sail on a boat.
Avoid confusion with veiller
Do not confuse the noun 'voile' with the verb 'veiller', which means to watch over or stay awake.
Cultural significance in France
The term is central to French public discourse regarding secularism and religious expression in schools and public spaces.
Examples
4 of 4Elle a mis un voile sur sa tête.
She put a veil on her head.
Le bateau a déployé ses voiles.
The boat unfurled its sails.
Un voile de tristesse couvrait son visage.
A veil of sadness covered her face.
Le voile atmosphérique réduit la visibilité.
The atmospheric haze reduces visibility.
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