profiter de la vie
To enjoy life in French is profiter de la vie.
The phrase means to get the most out of life by experiencing pleasure and taking advantage of opportunities.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the verb profiter (to make use of/to benefit from), the preposition de (of) and la vie (the life).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb profiter must always be followed by the preposition de when it means to take advantage of or enjoy something.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying profiter la vie. English speakers often mistakenly omit the preposition de, saying profiter la vie instead of the correct profiter de la vie.
Did you know?
- While profiter de la vie is positive, using profiter de with a person can imply you are manipulating them or taking unfair advantage of their kindness.
- The French verb profiter is a cognate of the English 'profit' but is used much more broadly to describe any form of pleasure or benefit.
- If you want to say you are 'enjoying' a specific meal or a book, you would likely use different verbs like apprécier or aimer, as profiter de focuses more on the act of seizing a pleasant moment.
Examples in context
- J'aime profiter de la vie.I like to enjoy life.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal preference using profiter de la vie.Tatoeba #13927598 by zogwarg, translation #13927597 by zogwarg
- Tu ferais mieux de simplement profiter de la vie.You might as well just enjoy life.This sentence shows how to use profiter de la vie when giving advice.Tatoeba #960146 by sacredceltic, translation #954775 by CK
- Il fait beau aujourd'hui! Profitons de la vie en allant faire une balade en vélo.The weather is beautiful today! Let's enjoy life by going for a bike ride.
- Madame Dupont, j'espère que vous profitez de la vie malgré les défis.Madame Dupont, I hope you are enjoying life despite the challenges.
- Nous vous souhaitons à tous une bonne santé et de jouir de la vie pleinement.We wish you all good health and to enjoy life fully.
- L'art de bien manger, boire et savourer la vie est ancré dans notre culture belge.The art of eating, drinking, and savoring life well is anchored in our Belgian culture.
- Il faut profiter de la vie quand on est jeune.You have to enjoy life when you are young.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are sitting at a cafe in Paris.
- LucasOn devrait vraiment profiter de la vie, Manon.We should really enjoy life, Manon.
- ManonTu as raison, Lucas, prenons un autre café.You are right, Lucas, let's have another coffee.
- LucasOui, savourons chaque instant ensemble.Yes, let's savor every moment together.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée.That is an excellent idea.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
