appris
/a.pʁi/
The English word 'learned' can be translated into French as appris.
appris is the most straightforward translation for 'learned', used to describe knowledge that has been acquired through study or experience.
Meaning: acquired by learning (adj)
Which one should you use?
While appris refers to knowledge acquired, it is distinct from étudié, which specifically refers to the act of studying a subject.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle appris agrees in gender and number with the direct object if the direct object precedes the verb in a compound tense (such as the feminine singular form apprise).
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /a.pʁi/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While appris means 'learned', the French use the verb apprendre for both 'to learn' and 'to teach'. Context tells you if the person is receiving or giving the knowledge.
- The word appris shares a common ancestor with the English word 'apprehend', which means to seize or grasp. In Latin, the root meant to physically seize something, but in French, it evolved to describe the mental 'seizing' of an idea.
- The word appris can also mean 'heard' or 'found out' when referring to news. For example, saying j'ai appris la nouvelle means 'I learned the news' or 'I heard the news'.
Examples in context
- Il a appris à nager.He learned how to swim.Tatoeba #131597 by sysko, translation #293928 by CK
- J'ai tant appris ici.I've learned so much here.Tatoeba #6917716 by Rockaround, translation #5640493 by CK
- Sami a appris l'arabe.Sami learned Arabic.Tatoeba #6809779 by GB3, translation #6809713 by OsoHombre
- J'ai appris beaucoup de choses cette année.I have learned a lot this year.
- Grâce à cette formation, j'ai acquis de nouvelles compétences.Thanks to this training, I have learned new skills.
- J'ai maîtrisé les bases du piano.I mastered the basics of the piano.
- 317 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are discussing their university courses.
- HugoEst-ce que tu aimes le cours de français ?Do you like the French class?
- ManonOui, j'utilise tout le vocabulaire appris.Yes, I use all the learned vocabulary.
- HugoC'est vrai que c'est très utile.It's true that it is very useful.
- ManonLe savoir acquis est vraiment précieux.The learned knowledge is really precious.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry appris, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries appris, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
