pouce levé
The English phrase "thumbs up" is translated into French as pouce levé.
pouce levé refers to the physical gesture used to signify approval or to indicate that something is okay. In informal spoken French, you might also express similar approval or enthusiasm using words like Super! to mean "great" or Génial! to mean "awesome".
Meaning: a gesture signifying approval or okay (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pouce, which means "thumb" and levé, which means "raised" or "lifted".
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun pouce is masculine, which requires the adjective to be in the masculine singular form levé. When you want to refer to the gesture as a countable noun, such as "a thumbs up", you use the indefinite article un to form un pouce levé.
Did you know?
- The word pouce is also the French term for the unit of measurement called an 'inch'. This is because the measurement was originally based on the width of a human thumb.
- In some parts of the French-speaking world, particularly in certain historical contexts or much older gestures, a single raised thumb can occasionally be interpreted as an insult rather than approval.
- French has a specific idiom mettre le pouce sur la balance which means to tip the scales or influence a result. It uses the same word for 'thumb' as pouce levé but describes a different physical action.
Examples in context
- Elle a répondu par un pouce levé.She responded with a thumbs up.
- Un pouce levé suffit pour dire oui.A thumbs up is enough to say yes.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are checking if a plan is okay.
- HugoEst-ce que tout est prêt pour demain ?Is everything ready for tomorrow?
- LéaOui, regarde, je te fais un pouce levé !Yes, look, I'm giving you a thumbs up!
- HugoParfait, alors on se voit à huit heures.Perfect, then we'll see each other at eight.
- LéaC'est entendu, à demain Hugo.It's a deal, see you tomorrow Hugo.
