à tort ou à raison
The English phrase "right or wrong" is translated into French as à tort ou à raison.
This phrase is often used as an adverbial phrase to qualify an action or a judgment, regardless of its correctness. While this phrase describes the concept of being right or wrong, you might use other words to describe specific instances of correctness. In formal French, correct or juste can be used to say 'right' in the sense of something being correct or accurate and faux or incorrect can be used to express 'wrong.' In informal French, T'as raison means "You're right" and Tu te trompes means "You're mistaken."
Did you know?
- The word tort in this phrase shares its ancestry with the English word 'torture', both stemming from the Latin 'tortus' meaning 'twisted'.
- The French word tort is the root of the English legal term 'tort', which describes a civil wrong. Both terms trace back to the idea of a 'twisted' or crooked action.
- In French, the expression for being right is avoir raison, which literally means to 'have reason'. This reflects a conceptual shift where correctness is treated as a possession rather than a quality.
Examples in context
- Votre réponse est correcte.Your answer is correct.
- La traduction française est juste.The French translation is right.
- Ce n'est pas la bonne réponse, c'est faux.That's not the right answer, it's wrong.
- Ton calcul est incorrect.Your calculation is wrong.
- Je pense que c'est ça la bonne réponse.I think that's the right answer.
- T'as raison, c'est la meilleure option.You're right, it's the best option.
- Non, ce n'est pas ça. Essaie encore.No, that's not it. Try again.
- Tu te trompes, elle ne viendra pas ce soir.You're mistaken, she won't come tonight.
- Il a agi ainsi, à tort ou à raison.He acted this way, whether right or wrong.
- Il a pris cette décision, à tort ou à raison.He made this decision, whether he was right or wrong.
- Il faut l'écouter, à tort ou à raison.We must listen to him, right or wrong.
- Elle a agi ainsi, à tort ou à raison.She acted this way, whether she was right or wrong.
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are discussing a coworker's controversial choice.
- ManonLucas, penses-tu qu'elle a bien agi ?Lucas, do you think she acted well?
- LucasElle a suivi les règles, à tort ou à raison.She followed the rules, whether she was right or wrong.
- ManonMais le résultat est vraiment désastreux.But the result is truly disastrous.
- LucasC'est vrai, mais c'est sa responsabilité.That's true, but it is her responsibility.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ou, raison, tort, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
