faire attention
/fɛ.ʁ‿a.tɑ̃.sjɔ̃/
To say pay attention in French, use faire attention. It means to focus on something or to be careful.
faire attention is very often used to mean be careful or watch out when there is a physical risk, not only to focus your mind.
What does it mean word for word?
faire means to do or to make and attention means attention.
Which one should you use?
être attentif describes a state of being attentive, while faire attention is the action of paying attention.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say what you pay attention to, add à, as in faire attention à.
How do you pronounce it?
faire attention is pronounced /fɛ.ʁ‿a.tɑ̃.sjɔ̃/, with the r of faire linked to the next word.
Did you know?
- If you shout attention ! in a crowded French restaurant, people might think there is an immediate physical danger rather than just asking for focus.
- The verb faire in faire attention shares an ancient root with the English word 'fact', as both stem from the Latin 'facere' meaning 'to do'.
- In French, you can use faire attention to express that you care for someone's well-being, which goes beyond simply focusing on them.
Examples in context
- Tu ne peux pas faire attention?Don't you pay attention?A question meaning can't you pay attention?Tatoeba #3954576 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #2271391 by CK
- Peut-être faut-il juste faire attention ?Maybe we just need to pay attention?faut-il means do we need to.Tatoeba #12265948 by Rovo, translation #12266392 by Miktsoanit
- Nous devons faire attention au feu de circulation.We must pay attention to the traffic light.au feu de circulation means to the traffic light.Tatoeba #4472045 by Petrus, translation #4471998 by AlanF_US
- Lucie, s'il te plaît, fais attention aux détailsLucie, please pay attention to the details
- Les élèves, prêtez attention !Students, pay attention!
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are walking near a busy road.
- HugoFais attention à la voiture !Watch out for the car!
- ManonOh, pardon, je vais faire attention.Oh, sorry, I will pay attention.
- HugoMerci, c'est dangereux ici.Thanks, it's dangerous here.
- ManonTu as raison, Hugo.You are right, Hugo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry faire attention, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries attention, faire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
