souple: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary/Technical
Quick answer
What does “souple” mean?
Flexible, pliant, easily bent without breaking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Flexible, pliant, easily bent without breaking.
Describes physical flexibility, adaptability of materials, or figuratively, a person's adaptable, accommodating, or agile nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Souple' is an accepted but less common variant spelling in British English. 'Supple' is the dominant spelling in both varieties, but is far more prevalent in American English.
Connotations
Both spellings carry the same connotations of graceful flexibility, adaptability, and smoothness.
Frequency
'Supple' is moderately low frequency overall; 'souple' is very rare. In corpus data, 'supple' appears thousands of times more frequently than 'souple'.
Grammar
How to Use “souple” in a Sentence
[be] souple[make sth] souple[remain/stay] soupleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “souple” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The craftsman worked to souple the leather before shaping it.
American English
- [Rare as verb; 'to make supple' is used]
adverb
British English
- [Extremely rare as adverb; 'supplely' is the standard form]
American English
- [Extremely rare as adverb; 'supplely' is the standard form]
adjective
British English
- The souple willow branches swayed in the breeze.
- Her souple mind easily grasped the new concept.
American English
- The supple leather of the jacket felt luxurious.
- Gymnasts maintain supple bodies through constant stretching.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in marketing for products like leather goods or ergonomic furniture.
Academic
Used in literature studies, dance theory, or material science texts.
Everyday
Very rare in casual speech; 'flexible' is preferred.
Technical
Used in tanning, textiles, and yoga/physiotherapy contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “souple”
- Misspelling as 'supple' (which is actually correct). Using it in overly casual contexts. Over-applying it to abstract concepts where 'adaptable' is better.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Supple' is the standard and overwhelmingly more common spelling in modern English. 'Souple' is an accepted but rare variant, primarily found in older or British texts.
Yes, figuratively. A 'souple mind' or 'souple character' suggests adaptability and openness to change, though this usage is formal and literary.
'Flexible' is a general, common term. 'Souple' (or 'supple') adds connotations of smoothness, grace, and often a natural or trained quality, especially regarding physical movement or materials.
Its meaning is largely covered by the more common word 'flexible'. It occupies a specific niche in formal, descriptive, and technical language, making it uncommon in everyday conversation.
Flexible, pliant, easily bent without breaking.
Souple is usually formal/literary/technical in register.
Souple: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌp(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌpəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'souple'; 'supple as a willow' is a rare simile]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SOUPLE' containing 'SOUP' – imagine a warm, liquid soup that flows and adapts to its container, being flexible and smooth.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLEXIBILITY IS ADAPTABILITY / GRACEFUL MOVEMENT IS FLUIDITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'souple' MOST appropriately used?