quelques mots
The English phrase "some words" is translated into French as quelques mots.
quelques mots is used to describe a small number of words used for a brief statement or a short conversation. It is also frequently used to describe a limited level of proficiency in a foreign language.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of quelques, meaning "a few" or "some" and mots, meaning "words".
Which one should you use?
While quelques can mean "some", in the context of quelques mots, it specifically emphasizes a small, indefinite number, similar to the English expression "a few words".
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, quelques is an adjective that must agree in gender and number with the noun mots, which is masculine plural.
Did you know?
- The word mot refers to a spoken or written word, but in French, a mot d'excuse is specifically a written note used to justify an absence from school.
- If you say you speak quelques mots of French, a native speaker might actually be surprised by how much you know, as the phrase is often used as a polite way to downplay high proficiency.
- While quelques mots suggests a small number, the phrase en deux mots is used to mean 'in a nutshell' or 'briefly', literally translating to 'in two words'.
Examples in context
- Je comprends quelques mots de temps en temps seulement.I only understand some words now and then.This sentence shows how to express understanding a limited amount of a language.Tatoeba #5988669 by christian63, translation #6200440 by sundown
- Comme j'avais appris l'anglais et le français à l'école, ce n'était pas dur pour moi de comprendre quelques mots d'espéranto, même sans les avoir appris.As I have learned English and French at school, it hasn't been hard for me to understand some words in Esperanto, even without having learned them.This sentence describes how prior language learning can make it easier to understand a small number of words in another language.Tatoeba #3147098 by Sisyphe, translation #3158426 by brad
- Elle a écrit quelques mots sur un papier.She wrote a few words on a piece of paper.
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are looking at a note left on the table.
- ManonQu'est-ce que c'est ?What is it?
- LucasCe ne sont que quelques mots.It is only a few words.
- ManonTu peux me les lire ?Can you read them to me?
- LucasBien sûr, Manon.Of course, Manon.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
