Bleus

Bleus is the plural form of the French adjective bleu, meaning blue, and is used in French to refer to the color itself as well as to things described by that color. In international usage, the term is most well known as a nickname for France’s national sports teams, reflecting the blue jerseys worn by these teams and their association with the French flag’s colors.

In sports, Les Bleus is the common name for France’s national teams, especially the men’s football team and the rugby union team, but it is also applied to other national squads, including basketball and handball. The feminine equivalents are often referred to as Les Bleues. The nickname is entrenched in French culture and international media, where the teams are identified by the color of their kit rather than by the sport alone.

The use of Bleus extends beyond team nicknames to national branding, with the color blue playing a prominent role in France’s flag, national symbolism, and sports marketing. A shade commonly associated with France is known as Bleu de France, a historical and culturally significant hue used in various official and ceremonial contexts.

Overall, Bleus functions both as a general linguistic term for the color blue in French and as a recognizable label for France’s national teams, serving as a symbol of national identity in sports and beyond.