rouge

Everyday

1. (French) «Rouge» means «red» in French: «une pomme rouge» is «a red apple». tree →
2. Rouge is red or pink make-up powder or cream put on the cheeks, now usually called «blusher» or «blush». tree →
3. In the game of roulette, «rouge» means red. To an English ear it sounds like «roozh». tree →

In the lessons

In French lessons «rouge» is one of the colours learnt early, with «bleu», «vert», «jaune» and «noir». In English the make-up meaning is old-fashioned. In history and place names, «Moulin Rouge» (red windmill) is a famous Paris theatre; «Baton Rouge» (red stick) is a city in the USA. In French, colour words usually come after the noun.

Examples

• In French, «rouge» means «red». tree →
• «Le drapeau est bleu, blanc et rouge» means «the flag is blue, white and red». tree →
• Grandma put a little rouge on her cheeks. tree →
• The actor's cheeks were painted with rouge. tree →
• Baton Rouge is a city in Louisiana. tree →
• «Rouge» sounds like «roozh». tree →
• In French we say «un crayon rouge» — the colour goes after the noun. tree →
• Nevertheless she wore rouge and patches, a mantle of silver brocade and a crown of diamonds, and her dress was covered with jewels, and green and pink ribbons. tree →

Note

As «red», French, not English. As make-up it is an English word, uncountable: «some rouge». Do not confuse with «rogue» (a dishonest or naughty person) — the letters are swapped.