Are you looking for a classy way to say, “life is beautiful?” If so, you could use the French saying “la vie est belle” to describe your current mental state. This post unpacks the origin and meaning of this expression.
Meaning
The French expression “la vie est belle” translates to “life is beautiful.” The saying describes our choice to live our life the way we want. The phrase can also have a similar meaning to other expressions like “seeing life through rose-colored glasses,” “life is rosy.” or “life is peachy.”
The saying is similar to another French expression, “voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir,” which has a more crass meaning. There was a song made in the 90s with the same title, and it translates to “life in happy hues.”
If you say “la vie est belle,” you are saying that life is beautiful and everything is going well for you. You could say it when you’re onboard an 80-foot yacht enjoying a glass of champagne or out in the woods and alone with nature.
What is beautiful to people is subjective, but regardless of the action or activity you choose to get there, we all enjoy the feeling of “la vie est belle.”
Example Usage
“Life is great right now. We’re out here on the ocean in our new boat, watching the sun go down with a cocktail in hand. La vie est belle.”
“La vie est belle. Could things really be any better right now? We’re in a luxurious hotel in Manhattan, with five days to see the city.”
“Isn’t life fantastic? We have tickets to the opera tonight, and then we’re leaving on vacation to the Hamptons tomorrow. La vie est belle.”
“La vie est belle, baby, we’re doing everything right and seeing the fruits of our labor. Now the money is rolling in, and we can start to do everything we dreamed of in life.”
“When I think about the world's problems, I remember my beach house and the amazing sunsets over the water. La vie est belle.”
“I live by the principle of la vie est belle. We have to embrace the present moment and squeeze all the juice we can get out of our lives.”
Origin
The expression “la vie est belle” originates from the 1956 French film “La Vie est Belle,” directed by Roger Pierre. The term spread throughout Europe and around the Mediterranean before moving to the United States in the 1970s.
Some experts believe that the movie “Life is Beautiful” by Roberto Benigni popularized the saying in his 1997 movie, featuring a strong European theme. It’s a popular expression, and you’ll find it everywhere in the media. Even Julia Roberts has a perfume line named “La vie est belle.”
Phrases Similar to La Vie est Belle
- Living your best life.
- You only live once.
- Live fast and free.
Phrases Opposite to La Vie est Belle
- Hardship.
- Povertry.
What is the Correct Saying?
- La vie est belle.
Ways People May Say La Vie est Belle Incorrectly
The phrase suits situations where you are experiencing activities in life away from your normal routine. For instance, going on vacation to the Bahamas. Using it to describe day-to-day events in your life is incorrect unless you’re living a lavish lifestyle.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase La Vie est Belle
You can use the expression “la vie est belle” in situations where you want to say “life is beautiful.” It’s a way of saying that you feel good about yourself, your life, and your future prospects. It’s a saying describing your enjoyment and lust for life, and it suits use in social situations.
You can use the saying to tell people how you feel about your current position in life or when you see other people acting like they are living their best life. Typically, the saying refers to situations where you’re away from work and enjoying a vacation or another fun activity.