double
/dubl/
In French, double can mean to multiply something by two.
The verb double is a transitive verb meaning to multiply a value or quantity by two. It can also be used as a noun to refer to a person who resembles another, or as a noun in a bar context to describe a drink containing twice the standard amount of alcohol.
Meaning: (transitive) to multiply by two (verb)
Which one should you use?
While double can be used to describe a person who resembles another, the term sosie is more commonly used and more specific when referring to a lookalike or a doppelgänger.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form of the verb is doubler. When using the verb in the third-person singular present indicative, the form is double. The past participle is doublé.
How do you pronounce it?
/dubl/
Did you know?
- In the world of gambling, doubler la mise refers to doubling the stake. However, the phrase doubler quelqu'un in a non-gambling context can mean to cheat someone out of their money.
- A double jeu is not just a game played by two people, but a common idiom for playing a double game or being deceitful. It describes someone who pretends to be on one side while secretly working for another.
- While 'double' describes a quantity, the French use the word doublon to describe a coin that has been struck twice or a duplicate item that is no longer useful.
Examples in context
- Quitte ou double ?Double or quit?This example shows how to use double in the phrase 'Double or quit?'Tatoeba #757090 by U2FS, translation #757092 by U2FS
- Quitte ou double ?Double or nothing?This example shows how to use double in the phrase 'Double or nothing?'Tatoeba #4583759 by dadidas, translation #4581452 by Wierdmin
- J'ai une double vie.I lead a double life.This example shows how to use double in the context of a 'double life'.Tatoeba #11772830 by lbdx, translation #7929132 by AlanF_US
- J'ai payé deux fois le prix normal pour ce billet.I paid double the regular price for this ticket.
- Elle travaille deux fois plus que moi.She works double the amount I do.
- Il a le double de jouets que moi.He has double the number of toys I have.
- Les cookies coûtent le double ici !The cookies cost double the price here!
- J'ai mangé deux fois plus de pizza qu'elle.I ate double the amount of pizza compared to her.
- On a fait deux fois plus de ventes cette semaine.We had double the amount of sales this week.
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are discussing their savings goal.
- LucasJe veux double mon épargne cette année.I want to double my savings this year.
- EmmaC'est un objectif très ambitieux, Lucas.That is a very ambitious goal, Lucas.
- LucasOui, mais je vais double mes efforts.Yes, but I am going to double my efforts.
- EmmaBonne chance pour réussir, alors !Good luck succeeding, then!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry double, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
