grandir
/ɡʁɑ̃.diʁ/
The English phrase 'grow up' is translated into French as grandir.
grandir is used to mean to mature and become an adult. Note that unlike English, which distinguishes between growing up (maturing) and growing taller (physical height), the French verb grandir is used for both concepts.
Meaning: to mature and become an adult (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡʁɑ̃.diʁ/
Did you know?
- While grandir is the standard verb, the phrase prendre son envol literally meaning 'to take flight' is the preferred poetic way to describe a child growing up and leaving home.
- Calling a grown man mon grand is a common way for a parent to show affection, even though the term literally translates to 'my big' or 'my tall'.
- The suffix -ir in grandir is part of a productive pattern in French that turns adjectives into verbs of change, effectively meaning 'to become'.
Examples in context
- Il te faut grandir.You need to grow up.This sentence shows how to express that someone needs to grow up using grandir.Tatoeba #3645895 by sacredceltic, translation #2888086 by Hybrid
- Je ne veux pas grandir.I don't want to grow up.This sentence illustrates a refusal to grow up using grandir.Tatoeba #3710268 by GB3, translation #3709621 by CK
- David a besoin de grandir.David needs to grow up.This sentence demonstrates how to say someone needs to grow up using grandir.Tatoeba #11504433 by Amastan, translation #11484049 by Amastan
- Il faut grandirOne must grow up
- J'espère qu'il grandira rapidementI hope he will grow up quickly
- Il est important de mûrir pour devenir une personne responsableIt is important to mature to become a responsible person
- Il est temps d'arrêter de faire l'enfant et d'assumer tes responsabilitésIt's time to stop behaving like a child and take responsibility
- Il est temps de grandir et de prendre des décisions réfléchiesIt's time to grow up and make thoughtful decisions
- Tu devrais arrêter de faire le bébéYou should stop acting like a baby
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a child they know.
- GabrielTon petit frère va vite grandir.Your little brother is going to grow up fast.
- ChloéC'est vrai, il grandit trop vite !It's true, he is growing up too fast!
- GabrielIl faut le laisser grandir tranquillement.You must let him grow up peacefully.
- ChloéTu as raison, Gabriel.You're right, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grow up” translations and entries grandir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
