plus ou moins
/ply.z‿u mwɛ̃/
The English phrase 'more or less' can be translated into French as plus ou moins. Wiktionary also lists peu ou prou.
Meaning: approximately (adv)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| plus ou moins | /ply.z‿u mwɛ̃/ |
| peu ou prou | /pø u pʁu/ |
Both plus ou moins and peu ou prou are used as adverbs meaning 'approximately'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase plus ou moins is a literal translation of 'more or less', combining the words plus (more) and moins (less).
Which one should you use?
Peu ou prou is a more formal, literary alternative to plus ou moins.
How do you pronounce it?
/ply.z‿u mwɛ̃/
Did you know?
- If you use the more literary peu ou prou in a casual conversation, you might sound like a character from a 17th-century classical play.
- While plus ou moins is the standard way to say 'more or less', the formal version peu ou prou contains the word prou, which comes from the Latin word for 'profitable' or 'useful'.
- Using plus ou moins to answer a yes or no question is common in French to express hesitation or partial agreement.
Examples in context
- Il était plus ou moins saoul.He was more or less drunk.This sentence is useful for describing a state of intoxication using plus ou moins.Tatoeba #14448 by Aiji, translation #288991 by Dejo
- Elle a plus ou moins mon âge.She's more or less my age.This sentence is useful for describing an approximate age using plus ou moins.Tatoeba #4051051 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #4050348 by AlanF_US
- Il comprend plus ou moins ses problèmes.He understands her problems more or less.This sentence is useful for describing a level of understanding using plus ou moins.Tatoeba #132880 by nimfeo, translation #301128 by CM
- L'entretien a duré plus ou moins une heureThe interview lasted more or less an hour
- Elle a à peu près 30 ansShe is more or less 30 years old
- On s'est rencontrés dans les environs de 8 heuresWe met at around 8 o'clock
- Il reste à peu près ça à faireThere's more or less that left to do
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing the duration of a train journey.
- LéaLe train arrive à quelle heure ?What time does the train arrive?
- GabrielIl arrive dans plus ou moins vingt minutes.It arrives in more or less twenty minutes.
- LéaC'est parfait pour moi.That is perfect for me.
- GabrielAttends-moi sur le quai, Léa.Wait for me on the platform, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “more or less” translations and entries plus ou moins, peu ou prou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moins, ou, peu, plus, prou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
