par rapport à
The English phrase "compared to" is translated into French as par rapport à.
par rapport à is used to show the difference between two things or to describe a relationship between them. This includes direct comparisons of scale, such as size or quantity, as well as comparing different behaviors or qualities.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase par rapport à literally translates to "by relation to" or "in relation to".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes slightly depending on the noun that follows it. When the noun following the phrase is plural, the à and the article les contract to form par rapport aux. If the noun begins with a vowel or a silent 'h', the à is followed by l' (for example, par rapport à l'année).
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using par rapport de. English speakers sometimes use this by analogy with other languages, but in French, the preposition à must always follow par rapport.
Did you know?
- In casual spoken French, par rapport à is often used as a filler phrase or a vague way to introduce a topic, similar to how English speakers use 'regarding' or 'about'.
- While it translates as 'compared to', par rapport à can also describe physical location to explain where one building is situated relative to another.
- The word rapport comes from the verb rapporter, which literally means 'to bring back'. This suggests that making a comparison is like bringing two different ideas back to a common point.
Examples in context
- Mes parents me traitent injustement par rapport à mon frère.My parents treat me unfairly compared to my brother.This sentence is useful for showing how par rapport à compares the treatment of two people.Tatoeba #11918634 by lbdx, translation #3419608 by Hybrid
- Par rapport à l'été dernier, nous n'avons pas eu autant de précipitations cette année.Compared to last summer, we haven't had that much precipitation this year.This sentence demonstrates using par rapport à to compare weather patterns across different time periods.Tatoeba #8537602 by Aiji, translation #7772871 by AlanF_US
- Par rapport à Tokyo, Londres est petit.Compared to Tokyo, London is small.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to compare the size of two cities.Tatoeba #781946 by melospawn, translation #684729 by notrwanda
- Par rapport à l'année dernière, les ventes ont augmenté.Compared to last year, sales have increased.
- Par rapport à ce que j'imaginais , la ville est beaucoup plus belle.Compared to what I imagined, the city is much more beautiful.
- Nos résultats sont excellents par rapport à nos concurrents.Our results are excellent compared to our competitors.
- À côté de toi, je suis vraiment petit !Compared to you, I am really small!
- C'est ridicule à côté de ce que Juan a accompli.It's ridiculous compared to what Juan has achieved.
- Leur équipe est faible à côté de la nôtre.Their team is weak compared to ours.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are discussing their new apartments.
- ManonMon nouvel appartement est grand par rapport à l'ancien.My new apartment is big compared to the old one.
- HugoC'est vrai, mais le loyer est plus cher.That's true, but the rent is more expensive.
- ManonOui, c'est beaucoup plus cher par rapport à avant.Yes, it is much more expensive compared to before.
- HugoÇa vaut le coup pour le confort.It's worth it for the comfort.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries par, rapport, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
