Usage Note
Subtil has a pronounced final l in both the masculine subtil and the feminine subtile, as well as in the adverb subtilement. The noun is subtilité ('subtlety'). A common usage is une distinction subtile ('a subtle distinction') or un parfum subtil ('a delicate scent').
Examples
"Sa réponse était subtile mais efficace."
Natural Translation
Her answer was subtle but effective.
Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
