profondes

Profondes is the feminine plural form of the French adjective profond, meaning deep or profound. It is used to modify feminine plural nouns, as in eaux profondes (deep waters), idées profondes (profound ideas), or pensées profondes (deep thoughts). Because it is an adjective, its form changes to agree in gender and number with the noun it describes; the masculine plural is profonds and the feminine singular is profonde, while profonde s is used for feminine plural.

Etymology and usage context

Profond derives from Old French profond, rooted in Latin profundus, meaning literally “pushed forward” or “deep.” Over time, the sense shifted primarily to describe physical depth (spatial depth) and, by extension, abstract depth (metaphorical profundity). In contemporary French, profond/ profonde/ profondes often conveys both literal depth (ocean, valleys) and figurative intensity (films with deep themes, pensées profondes).

Contexts and examples

In science and nature writing, profonde is used for descriptive precision, for example: eaux profondes, cavités profondes. In literature and philosophy, it conveys complexity or intensity: idées profondes, réflexions profondes. The phrase les profondeurs is commonly used as a noun meaning “the depths.” While profondes can appear in poetic or rhetorical style, its meaning remains tied to depth, whether physical or metaphorical.

See also

Profondeur, profondeur (noun form for depth), profundité (synonym in French), profond, profonds.