le pour et le contre
The English phrase "pros and cons" is translated into French as le pour et le contre. Wiktionary also lists pours et contres.
Meaning: for and against (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| le pour et le contre | |
| pours et contres | plural |
It is most commonly used with the verb peser (to weigh) in the expression peser le pour et le contre, which means to weigh the pros and cons or to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is literally constructed from the prepositions pour (for) and contre (against) used as nouns.
Which one should you use?
While you may encounter the plural form pours et contres, the idiom is most frequently used in the singular form le pour et le contre to represent the concept as a single collective evaluation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike the English plural "pros and cons", the French idiom is most frequently used in the singular form le pour et le contre.
Did you know?
- The 't' in the word et was actually removed in Old French, appearing as just e, before being forcefully re-added in the 12th century to mimic its Latin ancestor.
- In French, using le pour et le contre often suggests a search for a balanced middle ground rather than just choosing the winning side.
- While the phrase is common, using it in a high-stakes political debate can sometimes sound too simplistic, leading speakers to use les enjeux, which means 'the stakes'.
Examples in context
- Il faut peser le pour et le contre.You must weigh up the pros and cons.This sentence demonstrates how to use le pour et le contre with the verb to weigh up the pros and cons.Tatoeba #10676100 by AutoBot, translation #10676099 by AutoBot
- Nous avons pesé le pour et le contre.We weighed the pros and cons.This sentence shows the past tense of weighing the pros and cons using le pour et le contre.Tatoeba #10851171 by lbdx, translation #5734472 by CM
- Le présentateur a clairement exposé les avantages et les inconvénients de cette nouvelle politique.The presenter clearly outlined the pros and cons of this new policy.
- Avant de prendre une décision, nous devons évaluer les points forts et les points faibles de chaque option.Before making a decision, we need to assess the pros and cons of each option.
- Je dois peser le pour et le contre avant de prendre une décision.I need to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
- Il y a des bons côtés et des mauvais côtés à vivre en ville.There are pros and cons to living in the city.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing whether to move to a new city.
- LéaDoit-on vraiment déménager à Lyon ?Should we really move to Lyon?
- GabrielJe ne sais pas, je dois étudier le pour et le contre.I don't know, I need to study the pros and cons.
- LéaC'est une décision importante pour nous deux.It is an important decision for both of us.
- GabrielTu as raison, prenons notre temps.You are right, let's take our time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pros and cons” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contre, et, le, pour, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
