French Synonyms

If you want to make your French sound more, well, French, one place to start is with your vocabulary. In French classes, you tend to learn the most common, basic terms, but there are often various synonyms to choose from.

An vs Année, Jour vs Journée...

The French words an and année both mean year, but they indicate different ways of looking at the year. There are three other French pairs that work the same way: jour/ journée = day, matin/ matinée = morning, and soir/ soirée = evening. Learn the difference between these confusing pairs.

Any

The English word "any" has numerous French translations, depending on what it means and whether it is used as an adjective, pronoun, or adverb.

Approximate Numbers

When you want to make an estimate or take a guess, you can use approximate French numbers, like dizaine, douzaine, vingtaine, and more.

Bon - Synonyms

Bon is a common French term with numerous synonyms, in both normal and informal registers. Take a look at this lesson to learn some different ways to say "good."

Bon vs Bien, Mauvais vs Mal

The French words bon and bien, mauvais and mal are often mixed up - study this lesson to straighten them out.

C'est vs Il est

The French expressions c'est and il est are very similar in meaning. They are both used in impersonal expressions as well as for general comments, but they are not interchangeable. Learn the difference between c'est and il est and then take the test.

Comme

The French word comme can be a conjunction, adverb, or part of an adverbial phrase and is one of the most common French words.

Comment

The French adverb comment can be interrogative or exclamative and is one of the most common French words. Learn how to use comment to mean "how" and "what" as well as which uses of "how" in English are not translated by comment in French.

Coup

The French noun un coup literally refers to a shock or blow. It is also used in dozens of idiomatic expressions, noun clauses, and prepositional phrases.

French and France

When describing France, particularly in writing, the French like to use a variety of terms rather than constantly repeating français and la France. Here are the most common synonyms for French and France as well as some related vocabulary that will come in handy when discussing France à la française.

Gratitude

There are many words and expressions related to gratitude in French, from simple thank yous to ultra-polite expressions of appreciation. Take a look at this lesson to learn the formulas.

Même

The French word même can be an indefinite adjective, indefinite pronoun, or adverb, and is also used in a number of expressions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.

Non

Saying no is pretty simple, but there are quite a few synonyms and precisions to be aware of. Check out this lesson to learn how to say no, not a chance, I don't think so, and more.

Number Expressions

There are quite a few confusing pairs and difficult expressions related to numbers in French: second/deuxième, en premier/au premier/de premier, tiers/troisième....

Only / Not Only - Ne... que, Seulement, and their negatives

There are two common French equivalents for the restrictive "only" in English: ne... que and seulement. These two terms mean essentially the same thing, but their negative forms are a bit more complicated.

Oui

Saying yes is pretty simple, but there are quite a few synonyms and precisions to be aware of. Check out this lesson to learn how to say yes, yeah, sure, and more.

Parce que, Car, Puisque, Comme

The French conjunctions parce que, car, puisque, and comme are commonly used to draw conclusions or otherwise relate a cause or explanation with a result or conclusion. These conjunctions have similar but not identical meanings and uses - this lesson explains the difference.

Petit - Synonyms

The adjective petit is a very common French word that can be replaced by any number of synonyms. Take a look at this lesson to learn some different ways to say "small" and "short," and be sure to note the different nuances.

Plus

The French word plus can be used as an adverb or in a number of different expressions. Plus, it can be pronounced in three different ways. Learn everything you need to know about the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of plus right here.

Que

The French word que, which contracts to qu' in front of a vowel or mute h, has numerous uses and meanings. This lesson includes links to detailed information on each use of que.

Si

The French word si can be an adverb or a conjunction. Either way, si has several meanings and is used in numerous French constructions.

Tel, Telle, Tels, Telles

The French word tel can be a qualifying adjective, an indefinite adjective, or an indefinite pronoun, and is also used in a number of expressions and conjunctions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.

To Make

To make is a very general, very useful verb in English. Its French translations vary wildly, so take a look at this lesson to learn how to translate various meanings of "make" into French.

Tout, Tous, Toute, Toutes

The French word tout can be a noun, pronoun, adjective, or adverb, and can take four different forms. Learn all you need to know about tout, one of the most flexible words in the French language.

Très

The adverb très is a very common word that can be replaced by any of a number of synonyms, in both normal and informal registers. Take a look at this lesson to learn some different ways to say "very," and be sure to note the differences in intensity.

Visit, To Visit, Visitor

All of this visiting vocabulary has several French equivalents. Une visite vs un séjour; rendre visite vs visiter vs aller voir - these and more are thoroughly explained and dissected in this lesson.

"What" in French

French learners often have trouble deciding how to translate "what" into French. Should it be que or quoi, or maybe that pesky quel? Understanding the difference between these terms is critical to knowing how to use them correctly