What does nu in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word nu in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use nu in French.

The word nu in French means naked, bare, bare, empty, bare, nude, nu, semi-naked, semi-nude, half-naked, to the naked eye, with the naked eye, exposed, bare-bottomed, visible to the naked eye, halterneck, backless, strip naked, get naked, bare, lay bare, lay yourself bare, get naked, bare-naked, stark naked, nude, flip-flop, barefoot, barefooted, bare owner, bareheaded, pose nude, lay yourself bare, streaker, bare-chested, totally naked, completely naked, tramp. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word nu

naked

adjectif (personne : sans vêtements)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il est défendu de se promener nu.
You aren't allowed to walk around naked.

bare

adjectif (partie du corps : sans vêtements)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
En été, j'aime marcher pieds nus dans l'herbe. J'ai eu froid avec mes épaules nues.
In the summer, I like to walk in the grass in my bare feet. My bare shoulders made me cold.

bare

adjectif (sans ornement)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
La pièce était nue et froide. Le prisonnier ne voyait rien d'autre que les murs nus de sa cellule.
The room was bare and cold. The prisoner saw nothing but the bare walls of his cell.

empty

adjectif (vierge)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Je cherche un terrain nu pour bâtir.
I am looking an empty plot where I can build.

bare

adjectif (fil : sans protection)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ne laisse pas les fils nus, c'est dangereux.
Don't leave the wires bare; it's dangerous.

nude

nom masculin (Art : tableau de [qqn] nu) (artwork)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les nus de ce peintre sont artistiques.
This painter's nudes are artistic.

nu

nom masculin invariable (lettre grecque) (Greek letter)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le nu correspond au n français.
Nu corresponds to the letter n in English.

semi-naked, semi-nude, half-naked

locution adjectivale (partiellement habillé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il est maintenant interdit de se promener dans cette ville balnéaire à demi nu.

to the naked eye, with the naked eye

locution adverbiale (sans instrument)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
On n'a pas besoin de télescope, on peut voir cette étoile à l’œil nu.

exposed

locution adjectivale (découvert)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ne touchez pas les fils électriques à nu.
Do not touch exposed electrical wires.

bare-bottomed

locution adjectivale (familier (sans habit, les fesses nues)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

visible to the naked eye

locution adjectivale (visuellement perceptible)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Ce défaut n'était malheureusement pas décelable à l’œil nu.

halterneck

nom masculin invariable (vêtement laissant le dos dénudé) (strap around neck)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

backless

locution adjectivale (vêtement : laissant le dos dénudé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

strip naked, get naked

locution verbale (dénuder)

bare

locution verbale (figuré (épurer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

lay bare

locution verbale (figuré (dévoiler, révéler) (figurative)

Simon a mis son cœur à nu mais Lucie l'a piétiné.

lay yourself bare

locution verbale (figuré (se dévoiler)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pour être acteur, il ne faut pas avoir peur de se mettre à nu.

get naked

locution verbale (se déshabiller)

bare-naked, stark naked

locution adjectivale (intégralement nu)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

nude

nom masculin (genre artistique) (artistic form)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La sculpture du David de Michel-Ange est un nu intégral représentant le corps humain dans un état de nudité.

flip-flop

nom masculin invariable (sandale légère) (usually plural)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'été, Bénédicte porte toujours des nu-pieds.

barefoot, barefooted

adjectif invariable (sans chaussures)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
À la plage, on marche nu-pieds.

bare owner

nom masculin et féminin (propriétaire sans usufruit) (property law)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je suis nu-propriétaire d'un appartement et mes parents touchent les loyers.

bareheaded

locution adverbiale (sans chapeau)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Les militaires vont rarement nu-tête.

pose nude

locution verbale (être nu pour qu'on fasse son portrait)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

lay yourself bare

(se dévoiler aux autres) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

streaker

nom masculin (anglicisme (exhibitionniste de stade)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bare-chested

locution adjectivale (vêtement : sans haut)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
À la piscine, les hommes sont torse nu.
At swimming pools the men bare-chested.

totally naked, completely naked

locution adverbiale (complétement nu)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Les enfants jouaient tout nus dans la piscine du jardin.

tramp

nom masculin et féminin invariable (miséreux) (dated, pejorative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Des va-nu-pieds font la manche dans cette station de métro.

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of nu in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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