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How to Say ‘Oil paint’ in French

De la peinture à l'huile

duh lah pan-TUR ah l' weel

[duh lah pan-TUR ah l' weel]

💬 Usage Tip: à l'huile describes what the paint is made with, the same way à l'eau "water-based" does. De la in front means "some" and is required in French.

Phrase Breakdown

De la peinture

duh lah pan-TUR

Paint

'De la' is the partitive, meaning 'some'. Say 'duh la pan-TUUR'.

Example

J'achète de la peinture.

I'm buying some paint.

Words in this phrase

De

[duh]

of

Expressing the relationship between part and a whole.

Example

Un verre de lait.

A glass of milk.

la

[lah]

the (feminine singular)

Definite article used before a feminine singular noun.

Example

La réservation est déjà confirmée pour samedi soir.

The reservation is already confirmed for Saturday evening.

peinture

[pan-TUR]

paint

Feminine noun for the coloured material used to paint.

Example

J'achète de la peinture rouge.

I'm buying some red paint.

à l'huile

ah l' weel

oil-based

Literally 'with oil'. Say 'ah LWEEL', gliding quickly from 'u' to 'i'.

Example

Un tableau à l'huile.

An oil painting.

Words in this phrase

à

[ah]

to

Used with infinitive verbs to indicate purpose.

Example

Elle commence à chanter.

She begins to sing.

l'

[l']

the

Used before singular when the item is known.

Example

L'homme est là.

The man is there.

huile

[weel]

oil

Feminine noun for oil; 'à l'huile' means oil-based.

Example

Il cuisine avec de l'huile d'olive.

He cooks with olive oil.

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