plus fort
The English phrase "louder" is translated into French as plus fort.
plus fort is used to describe a sound with a higher volume. It is also used to describe the physical force of an action, such as hitting or knocking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of plus (more) and fort (strong), literally meaning more strong.
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, "louder" is expressed using the comparative form of the adjective fort rather than a specific adverb for volume. Because it uses an adjective, it must agree with the noun it describes: if the sound being described is a feminine noun, such as la musique, the adjective becomes plus forte.
Did you know?
- You can use the phrase plus fort to describe things that make no sound at all, such as the taste of coffee or the smell of a perfume. In these cases, it refers to intensity or potency rather than volume.
- The word fort is a linguistic relative of the English word 'fortress'. Just as a 'fortress' is a strong structure, the French word for 'loud' describes a strength of sound.
- The use of fort to mean 'loud' mirrors the global musical notation term forte. While forte is Italian, it shares the same root as the French word for strength used to describe sound.
Examples in context
- Un peu plus fort.A little louder.This sentence is useful for requesting a small increase in volume using plus fort.Tatoeba #13629 by gillux, translation #31248 by engberg
- Parle plus fort !Speak louder!This sentence is an informal way to tell someone to speak louder using plus fort.Tatoeba #504430 by sacredceltic, translation #4755153 by garborg
- Tom frappa plus fort.Tom knocked louder.This sentence shows how the phrase can describe the physical force of an action using plus fort.Tatoeba #9402532 by Micsmithel, translation #2237122 by CK
- Parlez plus fort s'il vous plaîtSpeak louder, please
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are in a noisy cafe.
- ChloéJe ne t'entends pas, parle plus fort !I can't hear you, speak louder!
- LucasDésolé, je vais parler plus fort.Sorry, I will speak louder.
- ChloéC'est mieux, merci Lucas.That's better, thanks Lucas.
- LucasEst-ce que c'est assez fort pour toi ?Is it loud enough for you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fort, plus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
