J'aime le fromage
To say I like cheese in French, use J'aime le fromage. It states a general liking for cheese.
J'aime le fromage talks about cheese in general, not one particular cheese. It is a simple, everyday sentence you can use with anyone.
Which one should you use?
J'apprécie le fromage is a more formal way to say you appreciate cheese. Je kiffe le fromage ! is slang and only fits casual talk with friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
When French talks about a whole category of things you like, the noun takes the definite article. That is why le stands before fromage. Using a word for this instead of the article would mean you like one specific cheese.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not drop the article as in J'aime fromage. French needs le here, so say J'aime le fromage.
Did you know?
- The slang term kiffer, used in Je kiffe le fromage, is derived from the Arabic word kif, which refers to a state of euphoria or pleasure.
- In France, cheese is traditionally served as a separate course between the main dish and dessert. It is rarely served as an appetizer or as a side dish on the same plate as the meat.
- The word fromage is actually a linguistic nod to the shape of the product, as it comes from the Latin word fōrma, meaning 'mould' or 'shape'.
Examples in context
- J'aime le fromage.I like cheese.This is the plain, complete sentence for saying you like cheese.Tatoeba #8352732 by zarisi, translation #5840439 by CK
- J'aime le fromage français, en particulier le Brie.I like French cheese, especially Brie.
- J'apprécie le fromage suisse, comme l'Emmental.I appreciate Swiss cheese, such as Emmental.
- Je kiffe le fromage anglais, surtout le Cheddar.I love English cheese, especially Cheddar.
- Je kiffe tous les types de fromage.I love all types of cheese.
- J'aime le fromage, surtout le brie.I like cheese, especially brie.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- LéaVoulez-vous manger du fromage ?Do you want to eat some cheese?
- GabrielOui, j'aime le fromage !Yes, I like cheese!
- LéaC'est parfait pour le dîner.It is perfect for dinner.
- GabrielJe suis d'accord, Léa.I agree, Léa.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fromage, le, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
