French
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in French.
chercher
The word 'chercher' in French is the equivalent of 'seek' in English. It is primarily used as a verb in a similar way as in English, to seek or look for something or someone. It can be used in various contexts and it changes its form according to the tense, gender, and number. For example, 'Je cherche un livre' would translate to 'I am seeking a book'.
Example sentences with chercher →cheveux
The French word for 'hair' is 'cheveux.' In French, 'cheveux' is used to refer to human hair and is always used in the plural form. It is an exception to the general rule because in English, 'hair' can be both singular and plural. For example, you would say 'J'ai les cheveux longs,' which means 'I have long hair,' in French.
Example sentences with cheveux →chien
The French word 'chien' is used in the same way the English word 'dog' is used. It represents a domestic animal which is a man's best friend. It may be used in various contexts, such as 'Mon chien' (My dog) or 'Un chien méchant' (A nasty dog).
Example sentences with chien →chocolat chaud
The French word for 'hot cocoa' is 'chocolat chaud'. It is pronounced as sho-ko-la sho. Just like in English, it can be used in any context where you are referring to a warm, sweet beverage made from chocolate or cocoa powder and milk.
Example sentences with chocolat chaud →choisir
The French word 'choisir' is used in context in a very similar way to 'pick' in English. It can be used to indicate personal selection or preference in a variety of situations, such as picking a colour ('choisir une couleur') or picking a book ('choisir un livre'). Just as 'pick' can indicate a selection or choice, so can 'choisir' in French.
Example sentences with choisir →choix
The French word 'choix' is used similarly to the English word 'choice', indicating the act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. It can be used in different contexts. For instance, in daily conversations, politics, psychology, and philosophy.
Example sentences with choix →chose
The French word 'chose' is directly translated to 'thing' in English. It is a noun and is used in the same context as 'thing' in English. For example, to mention an object or entity that is not specifically named or known.
Example sentences with chose →cinéma
The French word 'cinéma' is used similarly to how 'cinema' is used in English, typically referring to a place where movies are shown or the art of creating films. It can also refer to the film industry in general, akin to saying 'Hollywood' in an English context.
Example sentences with cinéma →cinq
The French word 'cinq' is used in the same way as 'five' in English. It is a number used to denote the quantity of something. It falls after 'quatre' (four) and before 'six' (six). It is also used in telling time, dates, and other numerical values.
Example sentences with cinq →clair
The word 'clair' in French translates to 'clear' in English. It is used in similar contexts as in English such as describing something as being understandable like 'C'est clair' means 'It's clear'. It can also refer to low intensity of color, light, like 'couleur claire' means 'light color'. It is also used to describe a clear, unobstructed view or clarity in thoughts.
Example sentences with clair →clairement
The French word 'clairement' is used in a similar way as 'clearly' in English. It is an adverb and is commonly used to indicate something that is understood or seen easily, without any ambiguity or doubt. For example, 'Il voit clairement le problème' means 'He clearly sees the problem.'
Example sentences with clairement →classe
The word 'classe' in French is used similar to how 'class' is used in English. It could denote a group of students in a school (i.e. a class of students), or refer to a specific category of things sharing common characteristics (i.e. a class of animals). It's also used in object-oriented programming languages to denote an entity that encapsulates data and methods. Note that the French pronunciation is different from English, where the 'a' in 'classe' is pronounced like 'ah'.
Example sentences with classe →clochettes tintantes
The phrase 'clochettes tintantes', is usually used in the context of Christmas songs and decorations in French-speaking regions, which literally means 'jingle bells' in English. It is often associated with the sounds of bells from Santa's sleigh or on Christmas decorations.
Example sentences with clochettes tintantes →coeur
The French word 'coeur' is used in the same way as the English word 'heart'. It is used to refer to the physical organ in our bodies, but can also be used metaphorically to refer to feelings and emotions. For example, 'avoir le coeur brisé' means 'to have a broken heart'. Just like in English, 'coeur' is also used in French to express the core or center of something.
Example sentences with coeur →collègue
The French word 'collègue' is used similarly to the English word 'colleague'. It refers to someone you work with, particularly someone who holds a similar position in your workplace or profession. It can be used regardless of the gender or number of individuals referred to. For example, 'Mon collègue travaille aussi sur ce projet' means 'My colleague is also working on this project'.
Example sentences with collègue →colocataire
In French, a 'roommate' is a 'colocataire'. This term is used to refer to a person who shares an apartment, house or other living quarters with another. It is commonly used in everyday conversation and formal contexts alike.
Example sentences with colocataire →comité
The French word 'comité' is used similar to the English word 'committee'. It represents a group of people appointed for a specific function, usually consisting of members who have a particular interest or expertise in a particular area. This term can be used in various contexts, like in business where there is a 'comité de direction' (management committee), or in events where there might be a 'comité d'organisation' (organising committee).
Example sentences with comité →comme
The French word 'comme' is used similarly to the English word 'like'. It can be used to make comparisons or express likeness between two things. It can also be used to describe how something is happening, similar to the English 'as'. Importantly, it does not carry the connotation of preference or fondness that 'like' does in English, for that the French use 'aimer'.
Example sentences with comme →commencer
The French word 'commencer' translates to 'start' in English. It is mainly used to indicate the beginning of an action, event, or process. Just like in English, it can be used in a wide range of contexts, whether you're starting a car, a conversation, or a meal.
Example sentences with commencer →comment
In French, 'comment' is used to ask 'how' in any situation. It is an adverb that inquires about the manner, way or means by which something takes place. It can be used in interrogative sentences, employ in indirect questions or often used rhetorically.
Example sentences with comment →comment ça va?
The French phrase 'comment ça va?' is a casual way to ask 'how are you?' in English. It is usually used in informal settings among close friends and acquaintances or in casual conversations. It can mean both 'how are you?' and 'how is it going?'. As a general rule, the response can be 'ça va bien,' meaning 'I'm fine,' or simply 'ça va,' which can mean either 'I'm fine' or 'It's going.'
Example sentences with comment ça va? →commun
The French word 'commun' is used to describe something that is ordinary or typical. For example, it can be used to describe objects, ideas, happenings or characteristics that are shared by all members of a group or are generally encountered or observed. Just like in English, it can be used in both literal and abstract context.
Example sentences with commun →communauté
The French word for community is 'communauté'. This term is used much in the same way as 'community' in English. It can refer to a group of people living in the same place, a group of people with a common interest or a group of nations sharing certain interests or goals. It's derived from the Latin word 'communitas' which means public spirit. It might also be used in some other contexts, just like in English.
Example sentences with communauté →compagnon
The French word 'compagnon' refers to a life partner or someone with whom you share a close relationship. It can also refer to someone you spend a lot of time with, such as a work colleague or travel buddy. In English, the term 'companion' shares these same contexts.
Example sentences with compagnon →comparer
The French word 'comparer' is a verb that is used very similarly to the English verb 'compare'. It can be used to denote the act of evaluating the similarities and differences between two or more objects, ideas, or individuals. Like in English, 'comparer' can be applied in various contexts, including but not limited to scientific, literary, and everyday colloquial usage.
Example sentences with comparer →compassion
In French, 'compassion' has the same meaning as it does in English, representing a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for someone else's suffering. It is used to express emotional empathy in conversations. It is pronounced as 'com-pa-ssion' with the emphasis on the second syllable.
Example sentences with compassion →compétence
The word 'compétence' in French translates to 'skill' in English. It's used much like its English counterpart, referring to the ability to do something well. It might refer to a learned ability, such as 'computer skills', or a natural talent, like 'drawing skills'. Similarly, it can also refer to a proficient capacity in a job or profession, such as 'chef's skills'.
Example sentences with compétence →complètement
The French word 'complètement' is an adverb, representing a full measure or degree of an action, similar to 'entirely' or 'wholly'. It can be used in a similar context as the English 'completely'. For example, 'Je suis complètement d'accord.' means 'I completely agree.'
Example sentences with complètement →complice
'Complice' technically means accomplice, but is also used to talk about someone with whom you share or have shared good times.
Example sentences with complice →comportement
The French word for 'behavior' is 'comportement'. It is used in exactly the same way as it is in English, to describe the way a person or animal acts or reacts to certain situations or stimuli. It is an important word in psychology and sociology, as well as everyday conversation. For example, 'Le comportement de l'homme était étrange' means 'The man's behavior was strange'.
Example sentences with comportement →