What does it mean word for word?
The form j'adore is a contraction of je, meaning "I" and adore, meaning "adore" or "love".
Which one should you use?
J'adore ça specifically means "I love that", and J'adore cela means "I adore that". For much stronger, modern emphasis, the informal expression Je surkiffe ça can be used to mean "I totally love that".
How does it change in a sentence?
When using j'adore to express love for a person, it implies a strong liking or passion. This is distinct from je t'aime, which is reserved for romantic or deep familial love. In many contexts, simply saying j'adore is more natural than trying to translate the English word "it" by adding a pronoun.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate the word "it" literally by adding ça to create j'adore ça. However, in many contexts, it is more natural to simply say j'adore.
Did you know?
- If you want to sound like a trendy Parisian, you might use the slang verb surkiffer. This comes from the Arabic word 'kif', which refers to pleasure or a state of enjoyment, and it is much more colloquial than j'adore.
- While j'adore expresses a strong liking, using je t'aime for a romantic partner is so specific that adding bien to make je t'aime bien actually weakens the phrase to mean 'I like you' as a friend.
- The verb adorer originally meant 'to worship' or 'to adore' a deity in a religious context. Today, it has shifted from a sacred expression to a common way to express intense enthusiasm for everyday objects like food or fashion.
Examples in context
- J'adore que ça arrive.I love it when that happens.This sentence shows how to use j'adore to express liking a certain occurrence.Tatoeba #2383332 by sacredceltic, translation #2380209 by CK
- J'adore quand tu souris.I love it when you smile.This sentence uses j'adore to express liking a specific action like smiling.Tatoeba #12539600 by Rovo, translation #10988003 by DJ_Saidez
- J'adore quand tu fais ça.I love it when you do that.This sentence uses j'adore to express liking a specific action or behavior.Tatoeba #12488595 by lbdx, translation #9720968 by megamanenm
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are at a coffee shop.
- GabrielTu aimes ce café ?Do you like this coffee?
- LéaOui, j'adore !Yes, I love it!
- GabrielMoi aussi, j'adore ce lieu.Me too, I love this place.
- LéaIl est très agréable.It is very pleasant.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
