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In this post we’ll take a look at French vocabulary, expressions, and grammar related to talking about what you like, what you find interesting, and what you’re really into doing.
J’aime le chocolat. I like chocolate.
If you’re talking about things or people that you like, use the verb aimer. Remember that when you’re talking about liking things in general, you use the definite article (les, le, la) in French.
- J’aime le chocolat/la vanille.
I like chocolate/vanilla. - J’aime les livres/films.
I like books/movies.
- Tu aimes la cuisine thaï ?
Do you like Thai food? - Il aime les champignons/les onions/l’ail.
He likes mushrooms/onion/garlic. - Elle aime cette chanson.
She likes this song. - Les enfants aiment leur nouveau professeur/ nouvelle professeure.
The kids like their new teacher. - J’aime bien ce chanteur. Aimes-tu ce chanteur ?
I like this singer. Do you like this singer? - J’aime bien ton frère/ta soeur/ton ami(e).
I like your brother/sister/friend.
J’aime plus les chiens que les chats. I like dogs more than cats.
If you want to say that you like A more than B, use the verb préférer to prefer, or aimer plus X que Y to like X more than Y.
- Je préfère le chocolat.
I prefer chocolate. - J’aime plus le chocolat que la vanille.
I like chocolate more than vanilla. - J’aime plus les chiens que les chats.
I like dogs more than cats. - Je préfère les chiens.
I prefer dogs. - Nous aimons plus la pizza que les pâtes.
We like pizza more than pasta. - Nous préférons la cuisine thaï.
We prefer Thai food.
J’aime cuisiner. I like to cook.
If you’re talking about things that you like to do, use the construction aimer + infinitive.
- J’aime lire/voyager/regarder la télé.
I like to read/travel/watch TV. - J’aime apprendre de nouvelles langues.
I like to learn foreign languages. - J’aime faire du vélo/nager/faire de la rando(nnée).
I like to ride my bike/swim/go hiking. - Elle aime faire de l’exercice le matin.
She likes to work out in the morning. - Il aime se lever tard/faire la grasse matinée le dimanche.
He likes to sleep late on Sundays. - On aime regarder des films ensemble.
We like to watch movies together. - Ils aiment se disputer à propos de politique.
They like to argue about politics. - Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire ?
What do you like to do? - Où aimes-tu passer tes vacances ?
Where do you like to go on vacation? - Quels genres de films aimes-tu regarder ?
What kind of movies do you like to watch? - Quelles types de nourriture aimes-tu manger ?
Qu’est-ce que tu aimes manger ?
What kind of food do you like to eat?
J’adore la science-fiction. I love science fiction.
If you really like or love something, use the verb adorer (to adore, to love) or the construction aimer vraiment (to really like).
- J’adore/J’aime vraiment les chiens/chats/animaux.
I love/really like dogs/cats/animals. - J’adore/J’aime vraiment la neige/quand il fait chaud.
I love/really like warm weather/snow. - J’adore/J’aime vraiment la cuisine éthiopienne.
I love/really like Ethiopian food. - Il adore/Il aime vraiment la musique classique.
He loves/really like classical music. - Elle adore/Elle aime vraiment les jeux vidéos.
She loves/really like video games.
Je suis dingue de ce nouveau restaurant. I’m mad about this new restaurant.
Some idiomatic expressions that you can use to talk about what you really like are être fou/folle de (to be crazy about), être dingue de (to be nuts about), If something is really your thing, c’est ton truc. If you’re mordu(e) de quelque chose you’re really crazy about it. You can also be fondu(e) de quelque chose, which has the same meaning.
- Je suis fou (m.)/folle (f.)/dingue de cette boutique/ de ce restaurant.
I’m mad about this store/restaurant. - Elle est folle de sa nouvelle voiture.
She’s nuts about her new car. - C’est un mordu/fondu de rando(nnée)/de ski/ de jogging.
He’s really into hiking/skiing/running. - Le camping c’est vraiment mon truc.
I’m really into camping. - C’est un fou/dingue des motos.
He’s crazy about motorcycles.
J’adore ma mère. I love my mother.
To talk about loving a person in a non-romantic way, use the verb adorer (to adore, to love).
- J’adore ma mère/mon père.
I love my mother/father. - Ils adorent leurs petits-enfants.
They love their grandchildren. - Il adore sa soeur.
He loves his sister. - Elle adore ses ami(e)s.
She loves her friends.
Je t’aime. I love you.
The verb aimer is also used to express romantic love. But remember: aimer bien is actually more of a friend-zone situation than aimer!
- Je t’aime.
I love you. - J’aime ma femme.
I love my wife. - J’aime mon mari.
I love my husband. - Ils s’aiment beaucoup.
They love each other very much.
Les langues, c’est intéressant. Languages are interesting.
There are all sorts of other ways to express that you like something.
- Ce livre est vraiment bon/bien/cool.
This book is really good/cool. - Les langues, c’est intéressant.
Languages are interesting. - Je trouve les livres/films intéressants/les langues intéressantes.
I find books/languages/films interesting. - Je pense que les livres sont plus intéressants que les films.
I think that books are more interesting than films. - Le ski c’est passionnant/vraiment super.
Skiing is exciting. - Voyager est passionnant/fascinant. Je pense que voyager est passionnant/fascinant.
Traveling is fascinating. I think traveling is fascinating. - Le vélo c’est sympa/chouette. J’aime beaucoup faire du vélo.
Biking is fun. I really enjoy biking. - Regarder des films, c’est distrayant/intéressant.
Films are entertaining/interesting. - Cette écrivaine/autrice est extraordinaire/incroyable. Ses livres sont incroyables.
This writer is amazing. Her books are incredible. - Ce restaurant est super. La cuisine ici est exquise/délicieuse.
This restaurant is great. The food here is exquisite/delicious.
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