j'ai entendu
The English phrase "I heard" is translated into French as j'ai entendu.
The phrase j'ai entendu is used when you have perceived a sound with your ears. If you want to express the idea of "I heard that…" in the sense of a rumor or something you were told, you should use the related phrase j'ai entendu dire.
Which one should you use?
Use j'ai entendu for a specific, completed event, such as hearing a single bang. In contrast, if you are describing an ongoing sound or a habit in the past, you would use j'entendais. To convey the meaning of "I heard (it said/rumored)", use j'ai entendu dire.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are describing a continuous state of hearing or a background sound in the past, use the imperfect tense j'entendais instead of the passé composé j'ai entendu.
Did you know?
- The word entendre is a close relative of the English word 'intend'. Both derive from the Latin intendere, meaning 'to stretch towards', as if the mind is stretching to catch a sound or a goal.
- Because entendre once meant 'to understand', the phrase je n'entends pas can occasionally be used to mean 'I do not agree' rather than 'I cannot hear'.
- If you say j'ai entendu une chanson, you are describing the act of perceiving the sound, but if you want to say you listened to it with intent, you would use j'ai écouté.
Examples in context
- J'ai entendu un cri.I heard a scream.This sentence is useful for showing how to use j'ai entendu to describe hearing a scream.Tatoeba #7763119 by sacredceltic, translation #2549388 by CK
- J'ai entendu un choc.I heard a crash.This sentence is useful for showing how to use j'ai entendu to describe hearing a crash.Tatoeba #7763062 by sacredceltic, translation #2360715 by CK
- J'ai entendu des pas.I heard footsteps.This sentence is useful for showing how to use j'ai entendu to describe hearing footsteps.Tatoeba #11006227 by Lumpawurump, translation #2245910 by CK
- J'ai entendu dire que vous avez gagné le concours.I heard that you won the competition.
- On m'a dit que le directeur sera en retard.I was told that the manager will be late.
- J'ai appris que Thomas et Julie se sont fiancés.I heard that Thomas and Julie got engaged.
- 274 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are in the living room.
- ChloéJ'ai entendu un bruit dans la cuisine.I heard a noise in the kitchen.
- GabrielC'était peut-être le chat, Chloé.Maybe it was the cat, Chloé.
- ChloéNon, j'ai entendu quelque chose de lourd tomber.No, I heard something heavy fall.
- GabrielJe vais aller vérifier, Gabriel s'en occupe.I will go check, Gabriel will handle it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
