j'aime danser
In French, "I like to dance" is said as j'aime danser.
The phrase is used to express a general fondness or a hobby for dancing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase j'aime danser is composed of je (I), aime (love/like) and danser (to dance).
Which one should you use?
While j'aime danser expresses a general fondness for the activity, je veux danser would express a specific desire to dance right now. You can also use j'adore danser to convey a stronger level of enthusiasm or passion for dancing than j'aime danser.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing a preference for an action, the verb aimer is followed directly by the infinitive form of the second verb.
Did you know?
- In French, the verb aimer is used for both 'to like' and 'to love', but adding the word bien can actually weaken it. While j'aime danser is a strong statement, j'aime bien danser often sounds more casual, like 'I quite like dancing'.
- While j'aime danser is a hobby, if you use the verb aimer to describe a person, like je l'aime, the meaning shifts instantly from 'I like her' to 'I love her'.
- The word danser was not always the primary way to say 'dance' in French. It eventually replaced the older term baller, which is still seen today in the word 'ballerina'.
Examples in context
- J'aime danser.I like to dance.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase j'aime danser.Tatoeba #6463342 by Aiji, translation #2703859 by CM
- J'adore danser, c'est tellement amusant!I adore dancing, it's so much fun!
- Je kiffe danser, c'est ma passion!I love dancing, it's my passion!
- J'aime danser tous les samedis.I like to dance every Saturday.
- Parfois, j'aime danser seule dans ma chambre.Sometimes, I like to dance alone in my room.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their weekend hobbies at a cafe.
- HugoEst-ce que tu as des loisirs, Emma ?Do you have any hobbies, Emma?
- EmmaOui, j'aime danser et j'aime aussi la musique.Yes, I like to dance and I also like music.
- HugoC'est super ! Moi, j'aime danser aussi.That's great! Me, I like to dance too.
- EmmaAlors, nous devrions aller en boîte un jour !Then, we should go to a club one day!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries danser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
