arc-en-ciel

rainbow

noun ark-ahn-SYEL Rare

Origin: Old French arc en ciel, literally 'arc in the sky'

Usage Note

Arc-en-ciel is a compound noun and stays hyphenated. Its plural is arcs-en-ciel (only the first element takes the plural). The term is also used figuratively for anything strikingly multicoloured, and in the phrase couleurs arc-en-ciel to mean 'rainbow colours'.

Examples

"Un arc-en-ciel magnifique est apparu après la pluie."

Natural Translation

A magnificent rainbow appeared after the rain.

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