mange
In French, mange is the way to say "is eating".
The term mange is used to describe the act of consuming food, whether it is happening at this exact moment or is a general habit of the subject.
Which one should you use?
While mange can mean both "is eating" and "eats", you can use the specific construction est en train de manger when you want to emphasize that the person is in the middle of eating right at this very moment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form mange is versatile as it covers both the simple present aspect ("eats") and the continuous aspect ("is eating") in a single word.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid trying to translate "is eating" literally as "est mange". Instead, use the present tense mange or the construction est en train de manger to express a continuous action.
Did you know?
- To say someone 'is eating' their heart out from jealousy, French uses the phrase se ronger les sangs, meaning to gnaw at one's own blood.
- The phrase manger sur le pouce describes eating a quick snack or a meal on the go, literally translating to 'eating on the thumb'.
- The expression manger la soupe à la cuillère refers to someone who is very naive or easily fooled, literally 'eating the soup with a spoon'.
Examples in context
- Tom mange des chips.Tom is eating potato chips.This sentence shows the use of mange with a food item.Tatoeba #6821231 by Rockaround, translation #6664272 by CK
- L'ours mange du miel.The bear is eating honey.Tatoeba #8344122 by felix63, translation #8352692 by lirpa
- Il mange des légumes.He is eating vegetables.Tatoeba #11383387 by saillier, translation #8366634 by dasbeispielholz
- Il mangeHe is eating
- Elle déjeuneShe is eating lunch
- Ils dînentThey are eating dinner
- Nous prenons un repasWe are having a meal
- Il mange une pommeHe is eating an apple
- Elle déjeune avec ses collèguesShe is eating lunch with her colleagues
- Nous dînons dans un restaurant chicWe are having dinner at a fancy restaurant
- 96 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are in the kitchen.
- GabrielQu'est-ce que le chat mange ?What is the cat eating?
- ChloéIl mange ses croquettes.He is eating his kibble.
- GabrielIl mange très vite aujourd'hui.He is eating very fast today.
- ChloéOui, il a très faim.Yes, he is very hungry.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
