cristal

crystal

noun krees-TAL Rare

Origin: Latin crystallus, from Greek krystallos (ice)

Usage Note

Cristal can refer to natural crystal (mineral) or to high-quality lead crystal glass, such as the famous cristal de Baccarat. The plural is cristaux, and cristallin (crystalline) is the adjective. The phrase clair comme du cristal (clear as crystal) is a common simile for absolute clarity.

Examples

"Ce vase est en cristal de Bohême."

Natural Translation

This vase is made of Bohemian crystal.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Liaison Rules: When to Link Words (and Not To)

French liaison links a silent final consonant to the next vowel. Learn the obligatory, forbidden, and optional rules, plus the s→z and d→t sound shifts.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Faire in French: To Make, To Do, and More

Faire in French means more than make and do: master faire vs rendre, weather and sports idioms, the causative, and the mistakes English speakers make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read