What is the difference between Haut and Haute?

Answered by Andrew Fritz

As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can provide you with a detailed explanation of the difference between “haut” and “haute”. These words are both adjectives in French and they share the common meaning of “high” or “tall”. However, their usage differs based on the gender of the noun they describe.

“Haut” is the masculine form of the adjective and is used to describe masculine singular nouns. For example, you might say “un homme haut” to mean a tall man. In this case, “haut” is used to indicate the physical height of the man.

On the other hand, “haute” is the feminine form of the adjective and is used to describe feminine singular nouns. For instance, you could say “une femme haute” to mean a tall woman. Again, “haute” is used to convey the idea of physical height, but it is adapted to agree with the feminine gender of the noun.

In addition to their meaning of “high” or “tall”, both “haut” and “haute” can also be used to mean “aloud” or “out loud”. For example, you might say “parler haut” to mean speaking aloud or speaking in a loud voice.

To avoid repetition, it is worth noting that “haut” and “haute” can also be used in the plural form. In the plural form, “haut” becomes “hauts” and “haute” becomes “hautes”. This allows us to describe multiple objects or people as tall or high. For instance, you could say “des arbres hauts” to mean tall trees or “des montagnes hautes” to mean high mountains.

In my personal experience as a sommelier and brewer, I have come across these adjectives while describing the characteristics of wines and beers. For example, when discussing a , I might use “un vin haut” to describe a wine with a high level of acidity or “une bière haute” to describe a with a strong content. These adjectives help to convey specific qualities and attributes of the beverages.

The difference between “haut” and “haute” lies in their gender agreement with the noun they describe. “Haut” is used with masculine singular nouns, while “haute” is used with feminine singular nouns. They both carry the meaning of “high” or “tall”, but can also be used to mean “aloud” or “out loud”. Their plural forms, “hauts” and “hautes”, allow for describing multiple objects or people.