plaisir
/plɛ.ziʁ/masculine
The English word "pleasure" is translated into French as plaisir.
plaisir is a noun used to describe a state of being pleased. You can use the verbal phrase faire plaisir to mean "to please (someone)". In more formal settings, you might use the construction Avoir le plaisir de + infinitive to mean "to have the pleasure of (doing something)".
Meaning: a state of being pleased (noun)
Which one should you use?
While plaisir is the noun for "pleasure", the related adjective is plaisant or plaisante for "pleasant".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, a common informal expression to convey pleasure is C'est l'fun!, which means "It's fun!"
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine noun, plaisir is preceded by the masculine definite article le to form le plaisir (the pleasure).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /plɛ.ziʁ/.
When do people say it?
The phrase avec plaisir is a common and polite way to say "You're welcome" or "My pleasure" when responding to someone who has thanked you.
Did you know?
- The word plaisir comes from the Latin verb placēre, which is the same root that gave English the word 'placebo'.
- In French, responding to a 'thank you' with Avec plaisir can sometimes feel overly enthusiastic or almost flirtatious depending on the tone and context.
- In high-fashion or culinary circles, the word plaisir is often used to describe a 'treat' or a small luxury, such as un petit plaisir.
Examples in context
- Ce fut un plaisir.It's been a pleasure.This sentence shows a way to express that something was a pleasure using plaisir.Tatoeba #7763109 by sacredceltic, translation #2547650 by CK
- Oui, avec plaisir !Yes, with pleasure.This sentence demonstrates a polite way to accept something or respond with plaisir.Tatoeba #2131509 by sacredceltic, translation #2130380 by AlanF_US
- Avec grand plaisir !With great pleasure!This sentence shows an emphasized version of expressing pleasure with plaisir.Tatoeba #4965991 by sacredceltic, translation #4969895 by NatsuDonkey
- Je suis ravie de vous aiderI am delighted to help you
- Je suis enchanté de faire votre connaissanceI am delighted to meet you
- C'est avec grand plaisir que je vous accueilleIt is with great pleasure that I welcome you
- Ça me fait plaisir de t'aiderIt gives me pleasure to help you
- 166 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are talking about their shared hobbies.
- ManonJe lis pour le plaisir.I read for pleasure.
- GabrielMoi aussi, c'est un vrai plaisir.Me too, it's a real pleasure.
- ManonQuel livre préfères-tu, Gabriel ?Which book do you prefer, Gabriel?
- GabrielJ'adore les romans d'aventure.I love adventure novels.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pleasure” translations and entries plaisir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries plaisir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
