faire
/fɛʁ/
The English verb "make" is translated into French as faire.
The verb faire is the most common and versatile translation for "make" in French. Depending on the specific nuance of "make" you wish to convey, other verbs may be more precise: use fabriquer to emphasize manufacturing or producing something, créer when referring to creating or generating something, réaliser to express accomplishing or achieving something, confectionner for crafting something by hand (such as in sewing or cooking), élaborer for devising or formulating something in a thoughtful and careful manner and effectuer when discussing the completion of a specific task or action.
Meaning: to produce (verb)
Which one should you use?
While faire is the general-purpose term, use fabriquer for manufacturing or producing something, créer for creating or generating something, réaliser for achievement, confectionner for manual crafting, élaborer for thoughtful formulation and effectuer for performing a task.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
faire is appropriate for both formal and informal situations. In contrast, créer is better suited for formal contexts or when emphasizing the artistic aspect of making something, élaborer is typically used in formal or academic contexts and effectuer is a good choice for formal or professional contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present form of faire is fait, meaning "makes" or "does". The imperative form for the second-person singular (tu) is fais, meaning "make" or "do".
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛʁ/
Did you know?
- When a French person says ça fait dix ans, they are using faire to express a duration of time. In English, we would say 'it has been ten years'.
- The past historic and imperfect subjunctive stems of faire, such as fis and fit, come from the Latin word fēcī through a process called metaphony.
- Faire is used in the idiomatic expression faire semblant, which means 'to pretend'. It literally translates to 'making a semblance'.
Examples in context
- Je vais le faire.I'm going to make it.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of faire to express an intention to do or make something.Tatoeba #1291347 by sacredceltic, translation #2547749 by CK
- Tu peux le faire.You can make it.This sentence is useful for expressing the ability to make something with faire.Tatoeba #1671370 by Micsmithel, translation #69920 by CK
- Ça va pas le faire.We're not going to make it.This sentence uses a common idiomatic expression with faire to indicate that something will not work out or succeed.Tatoeba #1549384 by sacredceltic, translation #1549332 by Spamster
- Je fais un gâteau.I make a cake.
- Elle fait du bricolage.She does crafts.
- Nous faisons la lessive.We do the laundry.
- Il fabrique des meubles en bois.He makes wooden furniture.
- Ils fabriquent leurs propres bijoux.They make their own jewelry.
- J'ai créé cette sculpture.I made this sculpture.
- Elle crée de magnifiques œuvres d'art.She creates beautiful artworks.
- Il réalise son rêve de devenir acteur.He's making his dream of becoming an actor come true.
- Elle réalise des documentaires engagés.She makes socially conscious documentaries.
- J'ai confectionné cette robe moi-même.I made this dress myself.
- Elle confectionne des pâtisseries délicieuses.She makes delicious pastries.
- Ils ont élaboré un plan d'action.They made an action plan.
- Elle a élaboré une théorie scientifique.She developed a scientific theory.
- Il effectue une recherche approfondie.He's doing thorough research.
- Nous devons effectuer des réparations.We need to make repairs.
- 744 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are talking about a cake.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu veux faire un gâteau ?Do you want to make a cake?
- NathanOui, je peux faire ça ce soir.Yes, I can make that tonight.
- EmmaC'est super, Nathan !That's great, Nathan!
- NathanOn va faire un gâteau au chocolat.We are going to make a chocolate cake.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry faire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
