beaucoup
/bo.ku/
The English phrase "a lot" is translated into French as beaucoup.
beaucoup is used as an adverb to mean "very much" or "a lot". It can also function as a way to describe a large amount or quantity.
Meaning: very much (adv)
Which one should you use?
While beaucoup is the standard term, you may encounter bien in specific contexts to intensify a comparison, such as in the phrase bien plus (much more).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adverb meaning "a lot" or "very much", beaucoup is invariable, meaning it does not change its form based on the gender or number of the object it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of beaucoup is /bo.ku/ in two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use beaucoup alone when they mean "a lot of" followed by a noun. In French, you must add de to the phrase. For example, use beaucoup de gens to say "a lot of people".
Did you know?
- The word beaucoup actually comes from a phrase meaning 'a beautiful blow' or 'a good hit'.
- In casual spoken French, you might hear people use the word plein followed by de instead of beaucoup de to say 'a lot of'.
- While English speakers often say 'a lot' to mean 'very much', in French, adding beaucoup after a verb like aimer is common, but using it to mean 'very much' with an adjective is a mistake. You should use très for adjectives instead.
Examples in context
- J'y ai beaucoup été.I've been there a lot.The sentence is useful for expressing how often you have visited a place using beaucoup.Tatoeba #2040985 by sacredceltic, translation #1500104 by RoyTek
- Je te dois beaucoup.I owe you a lot.The sentence is useful for expressing how much you owe someone using beaucoup.Tatoeba #2390104 by sacredceltic, translation #2389601 by CK
- Je le fais beaucoup.I do that a lot.The sentence is useful for expressing the frequency of an action using beaucoup.Tatoeba #2420629 by sacredceltic, translation #2315139 by CK
- J'ai beaucoup de travail à terminer avant demain.I have a lot of work to finish before tomorrow.
- Ils ont énormément de connaissances sur l'histoire du pays.They have a lot of knowledge about the country's history.
- J'ai beaucoup de frères et sœurs.I have a lot of brothers and sisters.
- J'ai passé pas mal de temps à préparer ce cadeau.I spent a lot of time preparing this gift.
- Il y avait un paquet de monde à la soirée hier soir !There were a lot of people at the party last night!
- J'ai beaucoup de livres.I have a lot of books.
- J'ai pas mal d'amies.I have a lot of friends [female].
- J'ai énormément de chance.I have a lot of luck.
- J'ai vu une centaine d'oiseaux dans le parc.I saw about a hundred birds in the park.
- 2264 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are talking about a new restaurant.
- NathanEst-ce que tu aimes ce restaurant ?Do you like this restaurant?
- ChloéOui, j'aime beaucoup la cuisine ici.Yes, I like the food here a lot.
- NathanMoi aussi, je mange beaucoup ici.Me too, I eat a lot here.
- ChloéC'est vrai, c'est très bon.It's true, it's very good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “a lot” translations and entries beaucoup, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beaucoup, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
