joli

pretty

adjective zhoh-LEE Common

Also means

lovely

Usage Note

Joli is softer and more intimate than beau/belle, tending toward 'cute' or 'charming' rather than grand beauty. The feminine is jolie, and Frenchspeakers often use it as an intensifier in expressions like un joli coup (a neat trick) or un joli prix (a tidy price, often ironically). It comes from Old Norse jól (Yule), suggesting festive brightness.

Examples

"Elle a une jolie robe bleue."

Natural Translation

She has a pretty blue dress.

Literal Translation

She has a pretty dress blue

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