mandala

noun mahn-DAH-lah Rare

Origin: From Sanskrit 'mandala' (circle, disc).

Usage Note

Mandala is used in French both in its original Buddhist and Hindu religious sense (a sacred geometric diagram) and in its popular secular sense as a circular colouring pattern used for relaxation (cahier de mandalas à colorier). The word is invariable in French plural: des mandalas. It entered mainstream French vocabulary through the mindfulness and art-therapy movements of the 2000s.

Examples

"Elle colorie un mandala pour se relaxer."

Natural Translation

She colours a mandala to relax.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Telling Time in French: Hours, Quarters, 24-Hour

Telling time in French means Il est cinq heures, et quart, et demie, and the 24-hour clock like quatorze heures trente. Read any French schedule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Noun Gender: Rules to Guess Right 80%

Guess French noun gender right 80% of the time using word endings: -age, -ment, -eau are masculine; -tion, -té, -ette are feminine. A high-yield system.

June 3, 2026 5 min read