ce
/sə/
The English phrase 'this' is translated into French as ce in its default form.
The word ce is used to indicate the thing, item, etc. being indicated. Additionally, the related phrase comme ça can be used to mean 'to the degree or extent indicated'.
Meaning: the thing, item, etc. being indicated (pron)
Which one should you use?
In French, the demonstrative adjectives ce and cette can mean both 'this' and 'that' depending on context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The demonstrative adjective 'this' must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The form cet is used instead of ce before a masculine singular noun starting with a vowel or a silent 'h'.
How do you pronounce it?
/sə/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget that ce must change to cette for feminine nouns, rather than using a single form for all genders.
Did you know?
- The masculine form ce actually traces back to the Latin exclamation ecce, which means 'behold' or 'look!', adding a sense of 'look at this' to its history.
- If you want to say 'this' with extra emphasis, like 'this very one', you can add the suffix -ci to the end of a noun or a pronoun, creating forms like celui-ci.
- In casual spoken French, you might hear people use ça instead of ce or cela to mean 'this' or 'that' in almost any situation.
Examples in context
- À ce point ?This much?This sentence is useful for asking about a degree or extent using ce.Tatoeba #9030037 by Micsmithel, translation #8777438 by moman
- Bois ce jus !Drink this juice.This sentence shows how to use ce to point to a specific juice.Tatoeba #3645571 by sacredceltic, translation #2245409 by CK
- Tue ce taon !Kill this horsefly!This sentence demonstrates the use of ce when identifying a specific horsefly.Tatoeba #10322856 by Julien_PDC, translation #10616748 by traeton
- Ce livreThis book
- Cet ordinateurThis computer
- Ce styloThis pen
- Ceci est un livreThis is a book
- Ça c'est un livreThat's a book
- Ces livres sont intéressantsThese books are interesting
- Cette maison est belleThis house is beautiful
- Cet homme est intelligentThat man is intelligent
- 13975 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are looking at a painting in a gallery.
- LéaRegarde ce tableau, Hugo !Look at this painting, Hugo!
- HugoOui, les couleurs sont magnifiques.Yes, the colors are magnificent.
- LéaJe trouve ce style très moderne.I find this style very modern.
- HugoC'est vrai, j'aime beaucoup.That's true, I like it a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ce, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ce, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
