le meilleur de tous
The English phrase "best of all" is translated into French as le meilleur de tous.
This phrase is used to describe the person or thing that is superior to all others in a group.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of le meilleur (the best), de (of) and tous (all).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes to match the gender and number of the noun being described. Use la meilleure de toutes if the person or thing is feminine. If you are referring to a group of people or things that are feminine and plural, use les meilleures de toutes.
Did you know?
- While le meilleur de tous is the direct translation, French speakers often use the expression la crème de la crème to describe the absolute best of a prestigious group.
- The word meilleur shares a surprising ancestral root with the English word 'much', both stemming from a Proto-Indo-European concept of being 'great' or 'large'.
- The word tous in this phrase is pronounced with a silent 's' if it is used as an adjective, but the 's' is clearly pronounced in this specific phrase because it functions as a pronoun.
Examples in context
- C'est le meilleur de tous.This is the best of all.This sentence demonstrates the basic use of le meilleur de tous.Tatoeba #1590001 by Petrus, translation #8838581 by sundown
- C'est de loin le meilleur de tous ceux-ci.This is by far the best of all of these.This sentence shows how to use le meilleur de tous to mean 'by far the best of all of these'.Tatoeba #418491 by Scott, translation #417730 by CK
- Ce bureau est le meilleur de tous les bureaux.This desk is the best of all the desks.This sentence shows how to use le meilleur de tous when specifying a group, such as desks.Tatoeba #1549043 by Zaghawa, translation #59862 by sundown
- Le candidat est le meilleur de tous.The candidate is the best of all.
- La solution est la meilleure de toutes.The solution is the best of all.
- Cette pâtisserie est le top du top.This pastry is the best of all.
- Cette chanson est le must.This song is the best of all.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are comparing different desserts at a bakery.
- GabrielLequel préfères-tu, Gabriel ?Which one do you prefer, Gabriel?
- LéaLe gâteau au chocolat est le meilleur de tous.The chocolate cake is the best of all.
- GabrielTu as raison, il a l'air délicieux.You are right, it looks delicious.
- LéaPrenons celui-ci alors.Let's take this one then.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, le, meilleur, tous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
