pâle

Pâle is a French adjective meaning pale or pallid, describing something lacking color or intensity. It is used for skin, eyes, fur, or other surfaces that appear light or washed out, as well as for light or colors that seem weak or faint. In everyday use, it conveys a sense of wan vitality or diminished saturation, and it can be applied to physical appearance as well as to lighting or atmospheres. Common expressions include peau pâle (pale skin), teint pâle (pale complexion), and ciel pâle (pale sky).

Etymology and forms: Pâle comes from Latin pallidus, via Old French, with the circumflex indicating a historical change in spelling. In the singular, the form is identical for masculine and feminine genders: un visage pâle, une peau pâle. The plural form is des visages pâles or des peaux pâles. The noun la pâleur denotes pallor or paleness, and the verb pâlir means to turn pale.

Usage notes: Pâle is the standard descriptive term for lacking color in medical, literary, and everyday contexts. It can be used metaphorically to describe subdued or weak impressions, as in a pâle éloge (a faint or tepid tribute) or a pâle lumière (faint light). Related terms include blafard and fade as near-synonyms, while vivid or coloré denote the opposite.