célèbres

Célèbes is the plural form of the French adjective célèbre, meaning famous or well-known. It is used to describe people, places, events, or things that have attained public recognition. In the singular, the form is célèbre for both masculine and feminine; the plural célebres is used for subjects of either gender.

The plural célebres can also function as a noun phrase, les célèbres, referring to famous people in a general sense. This usage appears in media and literary styles to evoke a collective of well-known figures, sometimes with a light or informal connotation.

Etymology traces célèbre to Latin celebris, via Old French celeBre or celebre. The term carried the sense of frequent, notable, or celebrated, and its meaning expanded in French to denote fame and public recognition. The related noun is célébrité, which names the state or quality of being famous.

Usage and nuance: célebres is commonly used in everyday French to describe well-known persons, places, or things, as in des lieux célèbres or des artistes célèbres. It conveys public recognition and renown. While synonyms such as connu, renommé, or illustre exist, célebres often carries a stronger sense of visibility and cultural prominence. It should not be confused with célébrer (to celebrate) or with célébrité (fame as a concept).

See also: célébrité; célébrer; célèbre.