jolie
Very LowLiterary or affected, sometimes used humorously.
Definition
Meaning
Pretty, attractive, pleasing in appearance.
A loanword from French, used in English primarily in fixed phrases or to create an air of sophistication, elegance, or deliberate foreignness. It describes someone, especially a woman or child, as being pretty or charming.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In English, it functions as a postpositive adjective (coming after the noun) in imitation of French syntax (e.g., 'femme jolie'). It is not a standard English adjective and its use is marked for stylistic effect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both, though it may appear slightly more in British literary or fashion contexts due to historical Francophilia.
Connotations
Carries connotations of pretentiousness, playful irony, or an attempt to sound cultured.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in general English; most common exposure is via the actress Angelina Jolie, which has cemented the word primarily as a proper noun.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun] + jolie (postpositive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Jolie laide (French borrowing: strikingly attractive despite unconventional features)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare; may appear in literary or cultural studies discussing French influence.
Everyday
Virtually never used in natural speech; would sound affected.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The novel described her as a 'femme jolie' from the provinces.
- He spoke of his 'jolie mademoiselle' with obvious affection.
American English
- The boutique had a sign saying 'Bienvenue, jolie femme!'
- It was a bit pretentious, him always calling his dog 'la chienne jolie'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a very pretty doll. (Note: 'Jolie' is not used at this level.)
- The actress Angelina Jolie is very famous.
- He tried to speak French and called her 'ma jolie'.
- The author used the French phrase 'jolie laide' to describe the model's unconventional beauty.
- His description of her as 'une femme jolie' felt forced and unnatural in the English text.
- The poet's deliberate use of 'jolie' in the sonnet created a layer of ironic distance from the subject's purported charm.
- Critics noted the 'jolie laide' aesthetic of the film's protagonist, whose appeal lay in her striking imperfections.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the famous actress Angelina JOLIE, who is considered very pretty. 'Jolie' sounds like 'jolly', and a pretty sight can make you jolly.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTRACTIVENESS IS AESTHETIC PLEASURE
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'ёлка' (Christmas tree).
- Avoid directly translating 'красивая' as 'jolie' in English writing; use 'pretty' or 'beautiful'.
- Its use in English is a stylistic choice, not a default synonym.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a prepositive adjective (e.g., 'a jolie woman' sounds wrong to a native ear).
- Using it in serious, non-stylized contexts.
- Pronouncing the 'j' as /dʒ/ instead of the French /ʒ/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'jolie' be most appropriately used in English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency loanword from French. Its primary recognition in English comes from the surname of actress Angelina Jolie.
It would sound very affected, pretentious, or like you are trying to be funny. It is not a natural English compliment. Use 'pretty', 'lovely', or 'beautiful' instead.
It is a French phrase sometimes used in English, meaning 'pretty-ugly'. It describes a person who is strikingly attractive despite having features that are not conventionally beautiful.
It is typically pronounced with an approximation of the French: /ʒoʊˈliː/ in American English or /ʒɒˈliː/ in British English. The 'j' is a soft 'zh' sound, not a hard 'j' /dʒ/ sound.