tomber amoureux
To fall in love in French is tomber amoureux.
This phrase is used to describe the process of starting to feel a strong romantic attraction to another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb tomber (to fall) and the adjective amoureux (in love).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective changes depending on the gender and number of the person falling in love. Use tomber amoureux for a male subject or a group of people of mixed or all male genders. If the person falling in love is female, use tomber amoureuse. For a group consisting only of females, use tomber amoureuses.
Did you know?
- The verb tomber once meant 'to dance' or 'to do somersaults' in Old French. This suggests the phrase 'to fall in love' carries a historical connotation of a sudden, dizzying movement or a physical tumble.
- French distinguishes between 'falling' in love and the state of being 'in love', but unlike English, the adjective amoureux can also mean 'fond of' a hobby or object.
- In French, the concept of 'falling' is often used for sudden emotional states, such as tomber malade for 'falling ill'.
Examples in context
- Il est bien plus aisé de tomber amoureux que de le rester.It's a lot easier to fall in love than to stay in love.This sentence illustrates the comparison between falling in love and staying in love using tomber amoureux.Tatoeba #820449 by sacredceltic, translation #574153 by darinmex
- Tomber amoureux prend du temps.It takes some time to fall in love.This sentence describes the time required to fall in love using tomber amoureux.Tatoeba #2689411 by Anthaus, translation #1254577 by Eldad
- Je suis tombé amoureux d'elle.I fell in love with her.
- Il est tombé amoureux de son collègue.He fell in love with his colleague.
- Nous avons éprouvé des sentiments amoureux dès notre première rencontre.We fell in love from our first meeting.
- Je suis tombé raide dingue d'elle !I'm completely in love with her!
- Il est tombé raide dingue de son nouveau petit ami.He's head over heels in love with his new boyfriend.
- Il est facile de tomber amoureux de lui.It is easy to fall in love with him.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are talking about their dating lives.
- NathanEst-ce que tu penses qu'on peut tomber amoureux rapidement ?Do you think you can fall in love quickly?
- ChloéOui, cela arrive parfois dès le premier regard.Yes, sometimes it happens at first sight.
- NathanC'est romantique, mais c'est aussi un peu effrayant.That's romantic, but it's also a bit scary.
- ChloéC'est le risque quand on veut tomber amoureux.That is the risk when you want to fall in love.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amoureux, tomber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
