Using prendre
Prendre usually means “to take,” both literally and figuratively:
Prendre has a number of other meanings as well:
1. to come over, strike
2. to catch
3. to take in, dupe, fool
4. to handle, deal with
5. to set
6. to do well, catch on, be successful
7. to catch, start
Prendre can also mean “to pick up” or “to fetch,” especially when used with another verb:
Se prendre
Se prendre has several possible meanings as well:
1. to consider oneself
2. to get caught, trapped
3. s’en prendre à - to blame, challenge, attack
4. s’y prendre à - to do something about it
Expressions with prendre
Expression: À la vôtre
Pronunciation: [a la vot(reu)]
Meaning: Cheers! To your health!
Literal translation: To yours!
Register: informal
Notes: The French expression à la vôtre is the most common way to toast people. It’s a contraction of à votre santé, hence the femininedefinite article la in the possessive pronounla vôtre.
You can use à la vôtre with a group of people in an informal situation. In a more formal situation, whether talking to one person or to a group, it’s better to say à votre santé.
The expression used to toast just one person in an informal situation is à la tienne.
Savoir has three possible meanings:
1) to know a fact
Je sais qu’il l’a fait.
I know he did it.
2) to know by heart
Je sais cette nouvelle (par cœur).
I know this short story (by heart).
3) to know how to do something (note that the word “how” is not translated into French)
Savez-vous conduire ?
Do you know how to drive?
Je ne sais pas nager.
I don’t know how to swim.
In the passé composé, savoir means “to learn” or “to find out”:
J’ai su qu’il l’a fait.
I found out that he did it.
Savoir is often followed by a subordinate clause.
Je sais où il est.
I know where he is.
Il sait que nous serons à la fête.
He knows we’ll be at the party.
Connaître has two meanings:
1) to know a person
Je connais Pierrette.
I know Pierrette.
2) to be familiar with a person or thing
Je connais bien Toulouse.
I know / am familiar with Toulouse.
Je connais cette nouvelle - je l’ai lue l’année dernière.
I know / am familiar with this short story - I read it last year.
In the passé composé, connaître means “to meet (for the first time) / become acquainted with”:
J’ai connu Pierrette à Lyon.
I met Pierrette in Lyon.
Connaître always needs a direct object:
Je connais son poème.
I am familiar with his poem.
Je connais bien ton père.
I know your father well.
Nous connaissons Paris.
We know/are familiar with Paris.
Il la connaît.
He knows her.
Ignorer is a related verb which means “not to know” in the sense of “to be unaware of.” Depending on the context, it can replace either ne pas savoir or ne pas connaître.
J’ignore quand il arrivera.
I don’t know when he is arriving.
Il ignore Ionesco.
He’s not aware of (doesn’t know about) Ionesco.
Expression: Avoir du pot
Pronunciation: [ah vwar du po]
Meaning: to be lucky
Register: informal
Notes: The French word pot means “luck” in a number of expressions:
avoir du pot - to be lucky
un coup de pot - a stroke of luck
Quel pot ! - What luck!
manquer de pot - to be unlucky
Manque de pot ! - No luck!
Pas de pot ! - No luck!
Example:
Tu as du pot !
You are so lucky!
Familiar synonym: avoir du bol
N’importe with interrogative pronouns
These can function as subjects, direct objects, or indirect objects.
n’importe qui - anyone
N’importe qui peut le faire.
Anyone can do it.
Tu peux inviter n’importe qui.
You can invite anyone.
Ne viens pas avec n’importe qui.
Don’t come with just anyone.
n’importe quoi - anything
N’importe quoi m’aiderait.
Anything would help me.
Il lira n’importe quoi.
He’ll read anything.
J’écris sur n’importe quoi.
I write on anything.
n’importe lequel - any (one)
- Quel livre veux-tu ? - N’importe lequel.
Which book do you want? Any one / Any of them.
- Aimes-tu les films ? - Oui, j’aime n’importe lesquels.
Do you like movies? Yes, I like any at all.
N’importe with interrogative adjectives
Use in front of a noun to indicate a non-specific choice.
n’importe quel - any
J’aimerais n’importe quel livre.
I’d like any book.
N’importe quelle décision sera…
Any decision will be…
N’importe with interrogative adverbs
These indicate that the how, when, or where of something is unspecified.
n’importe comment - (in) any way
Fais-le n’importe comment.
Do it any way. (Just do it!)
n’importe quand - anytime
Ecrivez-nous n’importe quand.
Write to us anytime.
n’importe où - anywhere
Nous irons n’importe où.
We’ll go wherever/anywhere.
donner __ ans à quelqu’un
to give someone __ years, to guess that someone is __
donner à fond
to be on full-blast (radio, TV)
donner à manger/boire à quelqu’un
to give someone something to eat/drink
donner à plein
to be on full-blast (radio, TV)
donner à quelqu’un à penser/croire/comprendre que
to suggest that, to make someone think/believe/understand that
donner à rire
to give cause for laughter
donner au nord/sud
to face north/south
donner contre
to run into
donner dans
- (people) to tend toward; to enjoy, be into
- (architecture) to lead into
donner dans le panneau (informal)
to fall right into the trap
donner dans une embuscade/un piège
to fall into an ambush/a trap
donner de l’appétit à quelqu’un
to give someone an appetite
donner de la tête/du front contre quelque chose
to hit one’s head against something
donner des signes de faiblesse
to show signs of weakness
donner de soi-même/de sa personne
to give of oneself
donner de soi-même pour
to devote oneself to
donner du cor
(hunting) to sound the horn
donner du fil à retordre à quelqu’un
to give someone a lot of work or trouble
donner faim/froid à quelqu’un
to make someone feel hungry/cold
donner la chair de poule à quelqu’un
to give someone goose bumps
donner la charge contre quelqu’un
to charge at someone
donner la communion à
to give communion to
donner l’alarme/l’alerte
to sound the alarm
donner la mal de mer à quelqu’un
to make someone seasick
donner l’assaut à quelqu’un
to attack someone
donner le change
to alleviate suspicion
donner le change à quelqu’un
to put someone off the scent/track
donner le feu vert à
to give the green light, the go-ahead
donner le la (music)
to set the tone
donner le ton/la note
(music) to set the tone
donner le vertige à quelqu’un
to make someone feel dizzy
donner l’exemple
to set an example
donner l’heure à quelqu’un
to tell someone the time
donner l’ordre à quelqu’un de + infinitive
to order someone to + verb
donner quelque chose à (+ a business)
to take something in (to a business - mechanic, tailor, etc.) to be repaired
donner quelque chose à faire à quelqu’un
to give someone something to do
donner quelque chose à quelqu’un par testament
to bequeath something to someone
donner quelque chose pour/contre quelque chose
to trade, exchange, swap
donner raison à quelqu’un
to prove someone right, to side with someone
donner sa langue au chat
to give up (trying to guess)
donner sa place
to give up one’s seat
donner son amitié à quelqu’un
to offer one’s friendship to someone
donner son coeur à quelqu’un
to give one’s heart to someone
donner son corps à la science
to donate one’s body to science
donner son sang
to donate blood, to shed blood
donner sur
to look out over/onto; to open onto; to overlook
donner tort à quelqu’un
to blame someone, to disagree with someone, to prove wrong
donner tout son temps à
to devote all one’s time to
donner un baiser à quelqu’un
to give someone a kiss
donner un coup de fil à quelqu’un
to give someone a call
donner un coup de main à quelqu’un (informal)
to give someone a hand, help someone out
donner un coup de balai/chiffon
to sweep/dust quickly
donner un coup de pied
to kick
donner une fessée
to spank
donner une fête
to throw a party
donner une gifle
to slap
donner un fait pour certain
to present a fact as a certainty
en donner à quelqu’un pour son argent
to give someone his money’s worth
ne pas savoir où donner de la tête
to not know which way to turn
ne rien donner
to have no effect
Avec lui, c’est donnant donnant.
He never does anything for nothing.
Ça donne ! (familiar)
It’s cool! Brilliant!
Cela donne chaud/soif
It makes you (feel) hot/thirsty.
Cela donne des maux de tête
It gives you a headache.
Cela va te donner des forces
It will give you strength.
C’est à toi de donner
it’s your deal
C’est ce qu’on m’a donné à entendre
That’s what I was led to believe, given to understand
donnant donnant
fair’s fair
donné c’est donné
a gift is a gift
étant donné
given that
Il n’est pas donné à tout le monde de…
Not everyone in the world is lucky enough to…
Je donnerais beaucoup pour savoir
I’d give a lot to know
Je me donnerais des coups !
I could kick myself!
Je te le donne en cent/mille (informal)
You’ll never guess (in a million years)!
…n’est pas donné à tout le monde.
Not everyone is gifted with…
On donne quelqu’un/quelque chose pour…
He/It is said to be…
On lui donnerait le bon Dieu sans confession.
He looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, He looks totally innocent.
On ne lui donne pas d’âge.
You can’t tell how old he is.
Le soleil donne en plein.
The sun is beating down.
Les sondages le donnent en tête.
The polls put him in the lead.
un donneur / une donneuse
giver, (card) dealer, donor; (familiar) informant, narc
se donner ___ jours/mois de pour…
to give oneself ___ days/months to…
se donner à
to devote oneself to
se donner à fond dans quelque chose
to give one’s all to something
se donner bonne conscience
to affect a clear conscience, ease one’s conscience
se donner comme but/mission/objectif de…
to make it one’s aim/mission/objective to…
se donner de grands airs
to give oneself airs
se donner des airs de
to act like
se donner le temps de faire
to give oneself time to do
se donner les moyens de faire
to find the means to do
se donner un maître/président
to choose a master/president
se donner du mal
to take great trouble
se donner de la peine
to take great pains
se donner des baisers
to kiss one another
se donner des coups
to exchange blows
se donner du bon temps
to have a good/whale of a time
se donner le mot
to pass the word on
se donner le nom/titre de
to call oneself by the name/title of
se donner pour
to claim/profess to be; to make oneself out to be
se donner pour but/mission/objectif/tâche de…
to make it one’s aim/mission/objective/task to…
se donner rendez-vous
to arrange to meet, make an appointment
se donner une contenance
to pretend to be composed
se donner une importance qu’on n’a pas
to act as if one is important when s/he isn’t
se donner une nouvelle image
to give oneself a new image
s’en donner (informal)
to have the time of one’s life
s’en donner à cœur joie
to enjoy oneself to the full, to have a field day
Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the noun has a literal or objective meaning.
Here are the most common “fickle” French adjectives; if you know of others which should be added to this list, please let me know.
ancien
Figurative or subjective meaning
mon ancienne école - my old (former) school
un ancien château - an old château (now a hotel)
Literal or objective meaning
mon école ancienne - my old (aged) school
un château ancien - an ancient château
bon
Figurative or subjective meaning
une bonne réputation - a good reputation
Literal or objective meaning
un homme bon - a good (charitable) man
brave
Figurative or subjective meaning
un brave homme - a good (decent) man
Literal or objective meaning
un homme brave - a brave man
certain
Figurative or subjective meaning
un certain regard - a certain (type of) look
un certain âge - old age (euphemism)
Literal or objective meaning
une victoire certaine - a certain (assured) victory
un âge certain - old age (rude)
Word play: Certain âge et âge certain
cher
Figurative or subjective meaning
un cher ami - a dear friend
Literal or objective meaning
un pull cher - an expensive sweater
chic
Figurative or subjective meaning
une chic fille - a nice, decent girl
Literal or objective meaning
une fille chic - a classy girl
curieux
Figurative or subjective meaning
un curieux homme - a curious (strange) man
Literal or objective meaning
un homme curieux - a curious (nosy) man
dernier
Figurative or subjective meaning
la dernière semaine - the last week (of the year)
Literal or objective meaning
la semaine dernière - last week (the one before this one)
différent
Figurative or subjective meaning
différentes idées - various ideas
Literal or objective meaning
une idée différente - different idea
divers
Figurative or subjective meaning
divers étudiants - various, several students
Literal or objective meaning
des étudiants divers - varied, diverse students
doux
Figurative or subjective meaning
une douce musique* - sweet music
un doux parfum* - sweet perfume
Literal or objective meaning
la moutarde douce - sweet mustard la peau douce - soft skin
drôle
Figurative or subjective meaning
un drôle d’idée - strange idea
Literal or objective meaning
une histoire drôle - funny story
faible
Figurative or subjective meaning
une faible chance - weak, poor, slight chance
Literal or objective meaning
un homme faible - a weak man
fameux
Figurative or subjective meaning
un fameux problème - a heck of a problem
Literal or objective meaning
un vin fameux - first-rate wine
franc
Figurative or subjective meaning
un franc imbécile - total idiot
Literal or objective meaning
une différence franche - clear difference
grand
Figurative or subjective meaning
un grand homme - a great man
Literal or objective meaning
un homme grand - a tall man
gros
Figurative or subjective meaning
un gros problème - big problem
Literal or objective meaning
un homme gros - fat man
honnête
Figurative or subjective meaning
un honnête homme** - a gentleman
Literal or objective meaning
un homme honnête - an honest man
jeune
Figurative or subjective meaning
une jeune femme - a young woman
Literal or objective meaning
une femme jeune - youthful woman
maigre
Figurative or subjective meaning
un maigre repas - skimpy, meager meal
Literal or objective meaning
un garçon maigre - skinny boy
méchant
Figurative or subjective meaning
un méchant cigare - great big cigar
Literal or objective meaning
un homme méchant - mean (cruel) man
même
Figurative or subjective meaning
le même jour - the same day
Literal or objective meaning
le jour même - the very day
modeste
Figurative or subjective meaning
un modeste repas - small, simple meal
Literal or objective meaning
un homme modeste - modest, humble man
noble
Figurative or subjective meaning
nobles aspirations - noble, worthy aspirations
Literal or objective meaning
une femme noble - imposing, respected woman
nouveau
Figurative or subjective meaning
un nouveau produit - a new, alternative product
Literal or objective meaning
un produit nouveau - a new, original product
pauvre
Figurative or subjective meaning
un pauvre homme - a poor (pitiful) man
Literal or objective meaning
un homme pauvre - a poor (penniless) man
plat
Figurative or subjective meaning
une plate excuse - a humble excuse
Literal or objective meaning
un pays plat - a flat country
premier
Figurative or subjective meaning
le premier problème - first problem
Literal or objective meaning
le problème premier - fundamental, basic problem
prochain
Figurative or subjective meaning
la prochaine semaine - the following week
Literal or objective meaning
la semaine prochaine - next week
propre
Figurative or subjective meaning
ma propre chambre - my own bedroom
Literal or objective meaning
une chambre propre - a clean bedroom
pure
Figurative or subjective meaning
la pure imagination - pure, total imagination
Literal or objective meaning
l’eau pure - pure water
rare
Figurative or subjective meaning
d’une rare beauté - exceptionally beautiful
Literal or objective meaning
un oiseau rare - rare bird
rude
Figurative or subjective meaning
une rude tâche - difficult task
Literal or objective meaning
une barbe rude - rough beard
sacré
Figurative or subjective meaning
un sacré menteur - a damn liar
Literal or objective meaning
un objet sacré - a sacred object
sale
Figurative or subjective meaning
une sale ville - a nasty town
Literal or objective meaning
une ville sale - a dirty town
seul
Figurative or subjective meaning
la seule fille - the one/single/only girl
Literal or objective meaning
une fille seule - lonely girl, a girl who is alone
simple
Figurative or subjective meaning
un simple homme - a mere (plain, ordinary) man
Literal or objective meaning
un homme simple - a modest, honest man
triste
Figurative or subjective meaning
un triste individu - a sad (mean, bad) person
Literal or objective meaning
un individu triste - a sad (crying) person
unique
Figurative or subjective meaning
un unique fils - an only son
Literal or objective meaning
un fils unique - only child (who is a boy)
véritable
Figurative or subjective meaning
un véritable problème - serious problem
Literal or objective meaning
un problème véritable - genuine (not fake) problem
vert
Figurative or subjective meaning
mes vertes années - my green (fruitful) years
Literal or objective meaning
légumes verts - green vegetables
vilain
Figurative or subjective meaning
vilains mots - bad words
Literal or objective meaning
un garçon vilain - ugly or naughty child
vrai
Figurative or subjective meaning
un vrai ami - a real, true friend
Literal or objective meaning
une histoire vraie - true story
*For this meaning, the adjective can precede or follow the noun
**Somewhat archaic
French Video Immersion Program -
holy crap this site is AMAZING
I also found an English-Russian version for dad too. wow.
Je suis inquiet et épuisé - I am worried and exhausted (just seemed like a useful phrase to know)
aussitôt que - as soon as
dés que - as soon as