Délicats

Délicats is the masculine plural form of the French adjective délicat, and it can also be used as a plural noun in certain literary contexts. As an adjective, délicat describes things that are delicate, refined, or requiring careful handling. It can refer to flavors, textures, situations, or stylistic qualities, and it often carries nuances of sensitivity or tact.

In everyday French, feminine forms accompany nouns as délicate (singular feminine), délicates (plural feminine), and délicatesse for the concept of delicacy or tact. The masculine plural délicats thus aligns with masculine nouns such as plats délicats (delicate dishes) or goûts délicats (delicate tastes). The term is common across domains such as cuisine, art, and social matters, where it conveys refinement or fragility.

Etymologically, délicat originates from Latin delicatus and entered French via old and middle French forms. The meaning expanded from “exquisite” or “fine-tuned” to cover both physical delicacy and figurative sensitivity or propriety. In modern usage, délicats remains a standard descriptor in descriptions of cuisine, décor, or topics considered delicate or requiring careful handling, while the corresponding feminine forms agree with the gender and number of the nouns they modify.

As a standalone noun, délicats is rarely used to refer to people; when it appears as a noun, it can denote individuals who are fastidious or refined, though this usage is less common in contemporary speech and more likely found in literary or historical contexts. Overall, délicats functions primarily as a versatile adjective for describing delicacy, nuance, and finesse in French.