belle

Everyday

1. A belle is a very beautiful girl or woman, especially the most admired one at a party: «the belle of the ball». tree →
2. (French) Belle is the feminine form of the French adjective «beau», meaning «beautiful»: «une belle maison» (a beautiful house). tree →
3. Belle is also a girl's name, as in the heroine of «Beauty and the Beast» (a name). tree →

In the lessons

In fairy tales and old stories, «the belle of the ball» is the girl everyone wants to dance with. In French lessons, «belle» describes feminine nouns: «la belle rose». Many children know Belle from «Beauty and the Beast». Phrases: «belle of the ball», «Southern belle» (US).

Examples

• Cinderella was the belle of the ball. tree →
• Belle loved reading books in the old story. tree →
• In French, «belle» means beautiful: «une belle journée». tree →
• The town's belle wore a blue silk dress. tree →
• «Ma belle» is a French way to say «my beautiful one». tree →
• In old American stories, a Southern belle was a rich young woman from the South. tree →

Note

Pronounced «bell», like the thing that rings. Old-fashioned in English. In French, «belle» goes with feminine nouns and «beau» with masculine ones. Do not confuse with «bell».