What does simple in French mean?

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

The word simple in French means simple, easy, straightforward, down-to-earth, simple, humble, modest, simple, single, mere, singles, naïve, simple, simples, single-hulled, single-hull, double, single, single ticket, It's as simple as that!, single-entry bookkeeping, simple contract, simple body, in your birthday suit, au naturel, single-density floppy disc, single-sided floppy disc, double, single sheet, simple future, single spacing, single line spacing, by simple letter, past historic, to make it simple, purely and simply because, Why complicate matters?, Why make things complicated?, present simple, simple present, pure and simple, reduce to a minimum, keep simple, nothing could be more simple, easy as pie, easy as ABC, simple-minded, simple, simple-minded person, easy to use, women's singles, simple formality, pure hypothesis, single spacing, men's singles, mere mortal, private, pure supposition, simple witness, on request, by request, on request, come from a modest background, come from a modest family. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word simple

simple, easy, straightforward

adjectif (facile)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ce problème est simple et peut être résolu par n'importe qui.
This problem is simple and can be solved by anyone.

down-to-earth

adjectif (figuré (sans prétention, naturel) (person)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il a gagné beaucoup grâce à son invention, mais il a su rester simple.
He earned a lot thanks to his invention, but he knew how to stay down-to-earth.

simple

adjectif (sans faste, sans ornement)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
La décoration de la chambre était simple, mais de bon goût.
The bedroom's decor was plain but tasteful.

humble, modest

adjectif (modeste)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il vient d'un milieu simple.
He comes from a humble (or: modest) background.

simple

adjectif (pas composé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est un corps simple.

single

adjectif (pas multiple)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Je prends une chambre simple à l'hôtel.
I will reserve a single room at the hotel.

mere

adjectif (intensifieur)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Nous ne sommes que de simples mortels. Le simple fait d'y penser me rend malade.
Just thinking about it makes me feel ill.

singles

nom masculin (Tennis) (tennis)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Les Français ont remporté le simple mais perdu le double.
The French took the singles title but lost the doubles.

naïve, simple

adjectif (naïf)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ce garçon est gentil mais un peu simple.
This boy is nice but a bit simple.

simples

nom féminin pluriel (Botanique : plantes aromatiques) (dated)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Je lui apportai un bouquet de simples.
I brought him a bouquet of medicinal plants.

single-hulled, single-hull

locution adverbiale (à coque unique)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Des pétroliers à double coque ont été préférés à ceux à simple coque.

double

locution verbale (varier jusqu'au double)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Selon les magasins, le prix de cet objet va du simple au double.

single, single ticket

nom masculin (transport : aller sans retour)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Jean a pris un aller simple pour Barcelone car il reviendra en voiture.
John got a single ticket to Barcelona because he was coming back by car.

It's as simple as that!

(il n'y a rien comprendre, c'est comme ça)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Arrête de te tracasser, c'est sa faute et c'est aussi simple que cela.

single-entry bookkeeping

nom féminin (comptabilité combinant débit et crédit) (finance)

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

simple contract

nom masculin (accord de volonté tacite) (law)

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

simple body

nom masculin (chimie : composé d'un seul élément)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'ozone (O3) est un corps simple constitué d'un seul type d'atome.

in your birthday suit

locution adjectivale (nu) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Élodie se promène souvent dans le plus simple appareil quand elle est chez elle.

au naturel

locution adjectivale (nu) (naked)

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

single-density floppy disc

nom féminin (support de stockage de 720 ko)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce logiciel tenait sur 5 disquettes simple densité.

single-sided floppy disc

nom féminin (disquette à côté unique d'écriture)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On n'utilise plus de disquettes simple face de nos jours.

double

locution adverbiale (en multipliant par deux)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
L'été, certains prix passent du simple au double.

single sheet

nom féminin (feuille A4)

simple future

nom masculin (temps de conjugaison) (Grammar)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les élèves butent sur la conjugaison au futur simple.

single spacing, single line spacing

nom masculin (intervalle courant entre deux lignes)

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

by simple letter

locution verbale (par courrier sans recommandé)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

past historic

nom masculin (temps verbal des récits) (French verb tense)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
En français, le passé simple est beaucoup plus courant à l'écrit qu'à l'oral. // Mes élèves ont du mal à conjuguer au passé simple en espagnol.

to make it simple

(en résumant, en simplifiant)

purely and simply because

locution conjonction (parce que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Why complicate matters?, Why make things complicated?

(il est inutile de compliquer les choses)

present simple, simple present

nom masculin (conjugaison : temps anglais)

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

pure and simple

locution adjectivale (franc, clair, entier)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il souhaite trouver une méthode pure et simple pour apprendre les langues.

reduce to a minimum

locution adjectivale (réduit au minimum)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Ses vacances sont réduites à leurs plus simple expression à cause d'une hausse d'activité.

keep simple

locution verbale (demeurer humble)

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

nothing could be more simple

(c'est très simple)

easy as pie, easy as ABC

locution adjectivale (très facile)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

simple-minded, simple

adjectif (benêt, débile) (pejorative)

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

simple-minded person

nom masculin et féminin (benêt, débile)

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

easy to use

locution adjectivale (facile à utiliser)

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

women's singles

nom masculin (jeu de raquettes à 1 contre 1) (variation of tennis)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")

simple formality

nom féminin (chose très aisée à faire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette réunion ne sera qu'une simple formalité.

pure hypothesis

nom féminin (pure conjecture)

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

single spacing

nom masculin (espacement habituel)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le directeur a demandé à sa secrétaire d'utiliser un simple interligne pour ses courriers.

men's singles

nom masculin (match un contre un) (variation of tennis)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")

mere mortal

nom masculin (soutenu (être humain lambda)

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

private

nom masculin (soldat de seconde classe) (military rank)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les simples soldats sont sans grades.

pure supposition

nom féminin (pure hypothèse)

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

simple witness

nom masculin (Droit : pur témoin)

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

on request, by request

locution adverbiale (en le demandant)

Vous pouvez obtenir un mode d'emploi en version papier sur simple demande.

on request

locution adverbiale (tout simplement en demandant)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le remboursement des frais postaux sera effectué sur simple demande.

come from a modest background, come from a modest family

locution verbale (être issu d'une classe peu favorisée)

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

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