possible
/pɔ.sibl/
The English word 'possible' is translated into French as possible.
possible is an adjective used to describe something that is able but not certain to happen. In spoken French, the phrase C'est pas possible ! is often used as an exclamation of disbelief or frustration, similar to 'No way!' or 'You've got to be kidding!' in English.
Meaning: able but not certain to happen (adj)
Which one should you use?
While possible refers to something that can happen, the formal term Éventuel is used to describe something that is possible but uncertain.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective possible is the same in both masculine and feminine forms. To make 'possible' plural, you add an 's' to the end.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɔ.sibl/
Did you know?
- In many French dialects, the exclamation C'est pas possible ! can be used as a sarcastic response to a request. In this context, it does not mean the task is impossible, but rather that the request is absurd or annoying.
- The French expression faire tout son possible uses possible as a noun rather than an adjective. It translates literally to 'do all one's possible', whereas English requires a phrase like 'do everything in one's power'.
- While English uses 'it is possible', the French equivalent il est possible que triggers the subjunctive mood, a grammatical shift that changes the conjugation of the following verb.
Examples in context
- C'est pas possible !That's not possible!This example shows how to use possible in an exclamation of disbelief.Tatoeba #3316 by trotter, translation #13064102 by Adelpa
- Le plus tôt possible.As soon as possible.This sentence demonstrates the use of possible in the phrase 'as soon as possible'.Tatoeba #13677137 by Orange, translation #11360607 by CurlyBloke
- Ce n'est pas possible.That's not possible.This sentence shows a standard way to state that something is not possible.Tatoeba #1108644 by sacredceltic, translation #954332 by CK
- Il est possible que je vienne à la réunion demain.It is possible that I come to the meeting tomorrow.
- Nous avons envisagé plusieurs scénarios éventuels pour résoudre ce problème.We have considered several possible scenarios to solve this problem.
- Peut-être que je viendrai à la fête demain soir, je ne suis pas sûr.Maybe I will come to the party tomorrow night, I'm not sure.
- Tu veux aller au cinéma ce soir ? C'est possible, je dois vérifier mon emploi du temps.Do you want to go to the movies tonight? It's possible, I need to check my schedule.
- 533 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are discussing their plans for the weekend.
- ChloéEst-ce que c'est possible de venir demain ?Is it possible to come tomorrow?
- LucasOui, c'est possible si tu n'es pas en retard.Yes, it is possible if you are not late.
- ChloéJe ferai tout mon possible pour être à l'heure.I will do my best to be on time.
- LucasD'accord, on se voit demain alors.Okay, see you tomorrow then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “possible” translations and entries possible, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
