tiède

Tiède is a French adjective and, less commonly, an adverb used to describe a temperature that is moderately warm, between cool and hot. It can apply to liquids, foods, atmospheres, climates, and even body temperature. In everyday use, tiède conveys warmth without heat and can imply a neutral, comfortable state rather than intensity. Examples include eau tiède (lukewarm water), thé tiède (warm tea), un climat tiède (temperate climate), or une peau tiède (warm skin).

Etymology and related terms: tiède comes from Old French tiède, itself from Latin tepĭdus meaning warm. It is cognate with related Romance forms and with the English tepid. The word carries nuance beyond mere temperature, often signaling moderation or mildness.

Usage and nuance: in French, tiède describes something neither hot nor cold. It is commonly used in cooking, daily speech, and descriptions of weather or environments. The adverb form is tièdement, used to describe action performed in a lukewarm or lackluster manner. The opposite terms are froid (cold) and chaud (hot), and tiède can also carry a subtle emotional or evaluative tone.

Figurative sense: tiède can describe reactions, receptions, or attitudes that are not warmly enthusiastic, such as une réception tiède or une critique tiède, indicating indifference or moderate approval.

Grammar notes: tiède is invariable in form for masculine and feminine singular nouns (un temps tiède, une ambiance tiède); in the plural it becomes tièdes (des eaux tièdes, des climats tièdes).