bleu

French

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

• IPA: /blø/

• audio (du bleu)

  (file)

• Audio (Belgium)

  (file)

Etymology

From Middle French, from Old French blöe, bleve, blef (“blue”), of Germanic origin, from Low Frankish *blāo (“blue”), from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhlēw-, *bhlāw- (“yellow, grey, blue”), from Proto-Indo-European base *bhel- (“to shine”). Cogante with Old High German blāo (German blau, “blue”), Dutch blauw (“blue”), Old English blāw (“blue”). More at blue.

Adjective

bleu m. (f. bleue, m. plural bleus, f. plural bleues)

1. blue

   Le ciel est bleu. - The sky is blue

2. (of meat) very rare, underdone

Noun

bleu m. (plural bleus)

1. The color blue
2. blue cheese

   Le bleu ressemble au roquefort - Blue cheese looks like Roquefort

3. rookie, new recruit, raw recruit

   Ce soldat est un vrai bleu - This soldier is a real rookie

4. bruise

   Il est tombé, et maintenant il a un bleu - He fell over and now he has a bruise

5. (Canada) a supporter of the Conservative Party

Synonyms

• (bruise): ecchymose, contusion

Derived terms

• bleuâtre
• bleuet
• bleuetière
• bleuir
• bleuissement
• bleuté
• bleu marin
• bleu roi
• bleu vert

See also

• turquoise
• outremer

---

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French blöe, bleve, blef (“blue”), of Germanic origin, from Low Frankish *blāo (“blue”), from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhlēw-, *bhlāw- (“yellow, grey, blue”), from Proto-Indo-European base *bhel- (“to shine”). Cogante with Old High German blāo (German blau, “blue”), Dutch blauw (“blue”), Old English blāw (“blue”). More at blue.

Adjective

bleu m. (feminine singular bleue, masculine plural bleus, feminine plural bleues)

1. blue

Noun

bleu m. (plural bleuz)

1. blue