Soleil
/sɔ.lɛj/noun
The French word for “sun,” also used in English in names, fashion, art, and decorative design.
Did you know?Soleil descends from Latin sol through a diminutive form, so its literal history transforms the mighty sun into a surprisingly intimate “little sun.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sóh₂wl̥
“Sun; the shining celestial body”
Ancient Latin
Latin
sōl
“Sun”
Classical Latin
Latin
sōlem
“The sun, in the accusative form”
Late Latin
Vulgar Latin
*soliculus
“Little sun; a diminutive formation from sol”
9th–12th Century
Old French
soleil / solail
“Sun”
Modern French
French
soleil
“Sun”