rêver
/ʁɛ.ve/
Dreaming is rêver in French.
The verb rêver is used to express the act of experiencing images and thoughts while sleeping. If you wish to specify the subject of your dream, such as a person or a thing, you must use the preposition de after the verb, forming rêver de.
Which one should you use?
While rêver refers to the act of dreaming, the noun un rêve is used to refer to the dream itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
rêver is an intransitive verb used to express the act of dreaming.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁɛ.ve/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- French speakers use rêver to describe daydreaming, but often add être dans la lune to say someone is 'in the moon'.
- The expression rêver debout describes someone who is dreaming while standing up, used to mock someone who is unrealistic.
- The word rêver has an unusual history, possibly originating from a Latin root meaning 'to escape' or 'to wander away'.
Examples in context
- Rêver ne coûte rien.Dreaming costs nothing.This sentence shows that dreaming is free.Tatoeba #1585649 by Julien_PDC, translation #1585705 by Gulliver
- Tom s'est mis à rêver.Tom started dreaming.This sentence describes someone starting to dream.Tatoeba #9484958 by Micsmithel, translation #2238694 by CK
- Tu es en train de rêver.You're dreaming.This sentence is used to say that someone is currently dreaming.Tatoeba #4653825 by sacredceltic, translation #1895621 by CK
- Je rêve souvent de voyagerI often dream of traveling
- J'ai fait un rêve étrange la nuit dernièreI had a strange dream last night
- Elle en fait le rêve depuis son enfanceShe has been dreaming about it since her childhood
- Je kiffe rêver de devenir célèbreI love dreaming of becoming famous
- Je passe souvent mes après-midis à rêvasser dans le parcI often spend my afternoons daydreaming in the park
- Je me laisse aller à rêver de vacances tropicalesI let myself indulge in dreaming about tropical vacations
- Je passe mes nuits à rêver de toiI spend my nights dreaming of you
- Elle a toujours rêvé d'avoir sa propre entrepriseShe has always dreamed of having her own business
- Nous avons fait le rêve de vivre à l'étrangerWe had the dream of living abroad
- Je kiffe rêvasser en écoutant de la musiqueI love daydreaming while listening to music
- Il se laisse aller à rêver du grand amourHe lets himself indulge in dreaming of true love
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are talking about their sleep in the morning.
- NathanTu as fini par rêver de moi ?Did you end up dreaming about me?
- ChloéOui, j'ai l'habitude de rêver souvent.Yes, I have a habit of dreaming often.
- NathanC'est quoi ton plus beau rêve ?What is your most beautiful dream?
- ChloéJe ne peux pas te le dire.I cannot tell you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rêver, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rêver, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
