HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
← Back to search

Meaning of politesse | Babel Free

Noun CEFR B2
/pɒlɪˈtɛs/

Definitions

Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; genteel politeness or an instance of this.

countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Français savoir-vivre
Svenska artighet

Examples

“So if you meet me, have some courtesy / Have some sympathy, and some taste / Use all your well-learned politesse / Or I'll lay your soul to waste”
“The reference in his letter to ‘having a drink’ is of course just an empty politesse.”
“The soft politesse concealed a sharp observer, a gleaner of information, cool under pressure and used to having to think several steps ahead […]”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.

See also

Learn this word in context

See politesse used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course