sois patient
To say "be patient" in French, you use sois patient.
This phrase is used as an instruction to wait calmly or to tolerate a difficult situation without becoming angry.
Which one should you use?
sois patient uses the imperative of tu, which is used for informal instructions. In contrast, soyez patient uses the imperative of vous, making it the polite or formal way to give the same instruction.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to a woman, you must use the feminine form sois patiente. If you are addressing more than one person or using the formal vous to address a single person, use soyez patient(e)(s).
Did you know?
- The word patient is borrowed from the Latin word patientem, which refers to someone who suffers or endures.
- While English speakers often say 'be patient' to mean 'wait a moment', a French person might use the word patience as a command itself, simply saying Patience ! to tell someone to calm down.
- French has a specific expression avoir de la patience, meaning 'to have patience'. Unlike in English where you 'are' patient, French often treats it as a possession.
Examples in context
- Sois patient avec lui.Be patient with him.This sentence shows how to use sois patient when directed at him.Tatoeba #4441664 by sicerabibax, translation #3903581 by CH
- Sois patient avec Silya.Be patient with Silya.This sentence shows how to use sois patient when directed at Silya.Tatoeba #12476927 by always, translation #11402747 by Amastan
- Sois patient s'il te plaît, ça prend du temps.Be patient please. It takes time.This sentence shows how to use sois patient when requesting patience because something takes time.Tatoeba #3720 by TRANG, translation #1896 by Swift
- S'il vous plaît, soyez patient, nous arrivons bientôt.Please, be patient, we will arrive soon.
- Veuillez avoir de la patience pendant que nous finalisons les préparatifs.Please have patience while we finalize the preparations.
- Il est important de faire preuve de patience lorsque les choses deviennent difficiles.It is important to show patience when things become challenging.
- Attends encore un peu, sois patient.Wait a little longer, be patient.
- Relax, aie de la patience, ça va s'arranger.Relax, have patience, it will work out.
- Soyez patients, je m'occupe de vous dans un instant.Be patient, I'll take care of you in a moment.
- Aie de la patience, les bonnes choses arrivent à ceux qui attendent.Have patience, good things come to those who wait.
- S'il vous plaît, soyez patients pendant que nous résolvons ce problème technique.Please, be patient while we resolve this technical issue.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo is getting frustrated while waiting for a website to load.
- ManonSois patient, Hugo, la page va charger.Be patient, Hugo, the page will load.
- HugoC'est vraiment trop lent !It is really too slow!
- ManonJe sais, mais rester calme est important.I know, but staying calm is important.
- HugoD'accord, je vais attendre encore un peu.Okay, I will wait a little longer.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries patient, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
