je préfère
The English phrase "I prefer" is translated into French as je préfère.
je préfère is used to indicate that one likes one thing more than another.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, people often use the expression Je préfère plutôt to say "I prefer".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb préférer follows a stem-changing pattern where the second é becomes è in the first-person singular present tense, resulting in je préfère.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use plus (more) after je préfère to say "I prefer X more than Y". However, in French, the comparison is already built into the verb.
Did you know?
- To express a strong preference of 'much rather', French speakers often use the phrase je préfère de loin, which literally means 'I prefer from far'.
- While je préfère expresses a preference, French speakers often use j'aimerais mieux to express a preference for a specific action in a given moment.
- The word je can be traced back to the Classical Latin 'egō̆', meaning the very same 'I' used in English.
Examples in context
- Je préfère le noir.I prefer the black one.This sentence is useful for showing a preference for a specific color using je préfère.Tatoeba #1812414 by sacredceltic, translation #724552 by CM
- Je préfère le café.I prefer coffee.This sentence is useful for showing a preference for a specific drink using je préfère.Tatoeba #3634686 by sacredceltic, translation #789735 by Eldad
- Je préfère le vélo.I prefer biking.This sentence is useful for showing a preference for an activity using je préfère.Tatoeba #10064448 by Micsmithel, translation #1123575 by CK
- Je préfère les plats végétariens.I prefer vegetarian dishes.
- J'ai une préférence pour la musique classique.I have a preference for classical music.
- Je donne la préférence aux produits biologiques.I give preference to organic products.
- Moi, je préfère sortir le soir.I prefer going out in the evening.
- J'aime mieux les comédies que les thrillers.I prefer comedies to thrillers.
- Je préfère plutôt aller à la mer.I prefer going to the seaside instead.
- 225 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are choosing a restaurant for dinner.
- NathanOn mange une pizza ou des pâtes ?Should we eat a pizza or pasta?
- ChloéJe préfère les pâtes ce soir.I prefer pasta tonight.
- NathanD'accord, on commande des pâtes alors.Okay, let's order pasta then.
- ChloéC'est parfait, merci Nathan.That's perfect, thanks Nathan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
