comparable
/kɔ̃.pa.ʁabl/
The English word 'comparable' is translated into French as comparable.
The adjective comparable is used to express that two things are able to be compared. When using this word, you typically follow it with the preposition à to indicate what it is being compared to (comparable à).
Meaning: able to be compared (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective comparable is the same in both its masculine and feminine singular forms. To form the plural, simply add an 's' to the end: comparables.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /kɔ̃.pa.ʁabl/.
Did you know?
- In French, while comparable means 'able to be compared', the related verb comparer is used in the phrase comparer ce qui est comparable, which serves as a philosophical reminder to only compare things of the same nature.
- Although comparable is used for similarity, French speakers often use the word pareil in casual conversation to mean 'comparable' or 'the same', as comparable can sound overly technical or academic in a cafe setting.
- The suffix -able in comparable is one of the most productive in French, allowing speakers to create new adjectives from almost any verb to denote possibility.
Examples in context
- La cinquième avenue de New-York est comparable au quartier de Ginza.New York's Fifth Avenue is comparable to Ginza.This sentence illustrates the use of comparable to compare two locations.Tatoeba #236678 by hortusdei, translation #35914 by AlanF_US
- Obtenir le titre de grand maître aux échecs est comparable à recevoir une ceinture noire en judo.Achieving the title of Grand Master in chess is comparable to receiving a black belt in judo.This sentence uses comparable to relate two different types of achievements.Tatoeba #10067935 by carlosalberto, translation #9961029 by carlosalberto
- Cette situation est pareille à celle que nous avons rencontrée auparavantThis situation is comparable to the one we encountered before
- Ces deux produits ont des fonctionnalités analoguesThese two products have comparable features
- Cette alternative est un équivalent comparable à notre première propositionThis alternative is a comparable equivalent to our initial proposal
- Ces deux paires de chaussures sont similairesThese two pairs of shoes are comparable
- Leurs résultats sont tout à fait comparables.Their results are quite comparable.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are discussing two different job offers.
- GabrielLe salaire est comparable pour les deux postes.The salary is comparable for both positions.
- ManonC'est vrai, mais les avantages sont différents.That's true, but the benefits are different.
- GabrielEst-ce que le temps de trajet est comparable ?Is the commute time comparable?
- ManonNon, l'un est beaucoup plus loin.No, one is much further away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “comparable” translations and entries comparable, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
