Which one should you use?
There is a subtle difference between expressing enjoyment of the activity and enjoyment of the objects: use j'aime jouer aux jeux vidéo to say you like the act of playing, but use j'aime les jeux vidéo if you want to say you like the video games themselves.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, you may also hear the expression Je suis mordu(e) de jeux vidéo, which translates to "I'm crazy about video games".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase j'aime jouer aux jeux vidéo, the verb jouer is in the infinitive form because it follows the conjugated verb aime. Additionally, the phrase uses the contraction aux (a combination of à and les) because the verb jouer requires the preposition à when it is followed by a game or sport.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When referring to games, avoid saying jouer les jeux vidéo. English speakers often mistakenly use les instead of the required aux after the verb jouer.
Did you know?
- In French, the word jeu meaning 'game' is also used to describe the 'play' or 'clearance' between two mechanical parts in an engine.
- French gamers often use the slang term geeker as a verb, which is an anglicism adapted into French conjugation patterns.
- If you want to sound like a true enthusiast, you can say Je suis mordu de jeux vidéo, which literally means 'I am bitten by video games'.
Examples in context
- J'apprécie jouer aux jeux vidéo.I enjoy playing video games.
- Je kiffe jouer aux jeux vidéo.I really enjoy playing video games.
- J'suis fan de jeux vidéo.I'm a fan of video games.
- J'aime jouer aux jeux vidéo le soir.I like playing video games in the evening.
- Le week-end, j'aime jouer aux jeux vidéo.On weekends, I like playing video games.
- J'aime jouer aux jeux vidéo avec mes amis.I like playing video games with my friends.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their hobbies at a cafe.
- NathanQuels sont tes loisirs, Emma ?What are your hobbies, Emma?
- EmmaJ'aime beaucoup lire, et toi Nathan ?I really like reading, and you Nathan?
- NathanMoi, j'aime jouer aux jeux vidéo.Me, I like playing video games.
- EmmaC'est super, c'est très amusant !That's great, it's very fun!
