Something or someone that inspires admiration, with older uses for strange or miraculous events, a literary feeling of awe, and a regional carnival pastry.
Elle gardait une merveille silencieuse devant le ciel d'hiver.
She kept a silent wonder before the winter sky.
Le récit médiéval énumère les merveilles accomplies par la sainte.
The medieval account lists the wonders performed by the saint.
Ces merveilles croustillantes ressemblent aux bugnes lyonnaises.
These crisp fritters resemble Lyon bugnes.
Le chroniqueur mêle batailles, songes et merveilles surnaturelles.
The chronicler mixes battles, dreams, and supernatural wonders.
La découverte fut pour elle un sujet de merveille durable.
The discovery became a lasting source of wonder for her.
Similar words
splendeur
prodige
beignet
phénomène
stupéfaction
oreillette
étonnement
bijou
prodige
joyau
Meanings
Wonder or marvel
noun
everyday
neutral
A person, object, work, or place that draws strong admiration because it feels rare, beautiful, or exceptionally well made.
Examples
La restauration de la chapelle a révélé une merveille cachée sous la poussière.
The chapel restoration revealed a hidden marvel beneath the dust.
Cette montre ancienne est une merveille de précision et de patience.
This antique watch is a wonder of precision and patience.
Les enfants regardaient la cascade comme une merveille de la nature.
The children looked at the waterfall as a wonder of nature.
Après le concert, tout le monde appelait la jeune violoniste une merveille.
After the concert, everyone called the young violinist a marvel.
Le jardin suspendu passait pour la huitième merveille du village.
The hanging garden was considered the village's eighth wonder.
Similar words
prodige
splendeur
chef-d'œuvre
bijou
joyau
trésor
phénomène
Miraculous or strange event
noun
religion
literary
An extraordinary happening, often in older, religious, or legendary language, that seems to exceed ordinary nature.
Examples
Le récit médiéval énumère les merveilles accomplies par la sainte.
The medieval account lists the wonders performed by the saint.
Les pèlerins parlaient d'une merveille que personne ne pouvait expliquer.
The pilgrims spoke of a wonder that no one could explain.
Dans la légende, chaque guérison devient une merveille racontée au village.
In the legend, each healing becomes a miracle retold in the village.
Le chroniqueur mêle batailles, songes et merveilles surnaturelles.
The chronicler mixes battles, dreams, and supernatural wonders.
On lisait ces merveilles comme des signes de la faveur divine.
These wonders were read as signs of divine favor.
Similar words
miracle
prodige
signe
phénomène
fait surnaturel
Wonderment or awe
noun
emotion
literary
A literary name for the feeling of admiring amazement that something beautiful, strange, or powerful can create.
Examples
Elle gardait une merveille silencieuse devant le ciel d'hiver.
She kept a silent wonder before the winter sky.
Le poème transforme la peur en merveille.
The poem turns fear into wonder.
Son visage montrait plus de merveille que de surprise.
His face showed more wonder than surprise.
Il parlait avec merveille des voix entendues dans la nef.
He spoke with wonder of the voices heard in the nave.
La découverte fut pour elle un sujet de merveille durable.
The discovery became a lasting source of wonder for her.
Similar words
émerveillement
admiration
étonnement
stupéfaction
ravissement
éblouissement
Carnival fritter
noun
food
neutral
A regional fried pastry, usually sweet and thin, made in parts of southwestern France, the Aosta Valley, and French-speaking Switzerland.
Examples
Ma grand-mère préparait des merveilles pour Mardi gras.
My grandmother made merveilles for Mardi Gras.
Les merveilles sortaient de l'huile couvertes de sucre.
The fritters came out of the oil covered with sugar.
En Gascogne, on sert souvent les merveilles encore tièdes.
In Gascony, merveilles are often served still warm.
La pâte des merveilles doit être étalée très finement.
The dough for merveilles has to be rolled very thin.
Ces merveilles croustillantes ressemblent aux bugnes lyonnaises.
These crisp fritters resemble Lyon bugnes.
Similar words
beignet
bugne
oreillette
galette de carnaval
Etymology
From Old French merveille, from popular Latin mirabilia, a plural form meaning admirable or extraordinary things, later treated in French as a feminine singular noun.
FAQ
What does merveille mean in French?
Merveille most often means a marvel or wonder, something or someone that causes admiration.
Is merveille masculine or feminine?
Merveille is feminine, so standard French says une merveille and la merveille.
Can merveille mean miracle?
It can mean a wonder or prodigy in older, literary, or religious language, but modern formal French often uses miracle for a recognized miracle.
What is the difference between merveille and émerveillement?
Merveille usually names the admired thing, while émerveillement is the feeling of wonder.
What are merveilles in food?
In parts of southwestern France, the Aosta Valley, and French-speaking Switzerland, merveilles are sweet fried carnival pastries.
What does à merveille mean?
À merveille means very well or perfectly, as in cette robe te va à merveille.
What are common phrases with merveille?
Common phrases include faire merveille, faire des merveilles, dire des merveilles de, and promettre monts et merveilles.
How do you pronounce merveille?
Merveille is pronounced /mɛʁ.vɛj/.
What are synonyms of merveille?
Depending on the sense, synonyms include prodige, splendeur, chef-d'œuvre, miracle, émerveillement, and beignet.
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