Meaning of "damsel" in English

The word "damsel" refers to a young unmarried woman, often of noble or gentle birth, typically occurring in historical or literary contexts. The term is frequently used to portray a character in distress who requires rescue, as seen in traditional stories and fairy tales. The image of a "damsel in distress" is a recurring theme in literature and popular culture, symbolizing innocence and vulnerability. Despite its historical roots, the usage of "damsel" in contemporary language is less common, sometimes adopted for an archaic or romantic effect in storytelling.

Meaning of "demoiselle" in French

In French, "demoiselle" denotes a young lady or maiden, often used as a polite form of address akin to "Miss" in English. Historically, it carried connotations of nobility and youth, much like its English counterpart "damsel." The term is also utilized in a formal setting, such as when naming an unmarried young woman. With cultural and linguistic evolution, the usage of "demoiselle" has shifted, becoming less prevalent in modern colloquial language, yet it remains a staple in literary and formal French contexts.

Pronunciation of "damsel" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈdæm.zəl/

Pronunciation Variations: In English, the pronunciation of "damsel" may vary slightly between British and American accents. In both dialects, the stress is placed on the first syllable, but regional variations might alter the exact pronunciation slightly, particularly with the vowel sound in the first syllable.

Pronunciation of "demoiselle" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /də.mwa.zɛl/

Pronunciation Variations: The word "demoiselle" is pronounced with a typical French accent, with a delicate emphasis on the nasal sound in the final syllable. Regional variations within French-speaking countries may influence the vowel sounds slightly but generally remain consistent across most dialects.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

  1. The knight rescued the damsel from the towering castle. (Le chevalier a sauvé la demoiselle du château imposant.)

  2. In the story, the brave damsel takes on the dragon herself. (Dans l'histoire, la courageuse demoiselle affronte elle-même le dragon.)

  3. The damsel wore an elegant gown to the ball. (La demoiselle portait une robe élégante au bal.)

  4. Once upon a time, a lonely damsel lived in the forest. (Il était une fois, une demoiselle solitaire vivait dans la forêt.)

  5. The artist painted a portrait of a lovely damsel. (L'artiste a peint un portrait d'une ravissante demoiselle.)

  6. Our play features a witty damsel who saves the day. (Notre pièce met en scène une demoiselle spirituelle qui sauve la situation.)

  7. The damsel sat by the river, humming a sweet tune. (La demoiselle était assise près de la rivière, fredonnant une douce mélodie.)

  8. Tales of the damsel's adventures spread across the land. (Les récits des aventures de la demoiselle se répandirent à travers le pays.)

  9. A damsel with a mysterious past arrived in town. (Une demoiselle au passé mystérieux est arrivée en ville.)

  10. Despite the stereotype, not every damsel needs rescuing. (Malgré le stéréotype, chaque demoiselle n'a pas besoin d'être secourue.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "damsel" in English

Synonyms: maiden, girl, miss, young lady, lass, maid, wench, filly, coquette, ingenue

Antonyms: matron, wife, lady, dame, woman, -

Similar Words: princess, noblewoman, gentlewoman, lassie, belle, debutante, young woman, -

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "demoiselle" in French

Synonyms: jeune fille, fille, adolescente, pucelle, célibataire, jouvencelle, nymphette, -

Antonyms: femme, dame, mariée, -

Similar Words: jeune femme, jeune dame, signorina, jeune demoiselle, petite dame, -

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