aimer
/ɛ.me/
To like is expressed in French as aimer.
The word aimer is the most common and versatile word used to say 'to like' in French. It means to find something or someone pleasant or appealing.
Which one should you use?
While aimer is the standard term, there are nuances depending on your intent. When referring to people, aimer often carries the stronger meaning of 'to love'. To clarify that you only 'like' a person (rather than being in love with them), you should use the phrase aimer bien. Other options include the formal apprécier, which conveys a sense of appreciation and the slang term kiffer.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɛ.me/ (two syllables)
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful when using aimer with people. English speakers often intend to say they 'like' someone, but in French, this can be interpreted as 'to love' them. To avoid this, add the adverb 'bien' to create aimer bien.
Did you know?
- The slang term kiffer is derived from the Arabic word 'kif', which refers to the pleasure derived from smoking cannabis.
- In French, the intensity of 'loving' something can actually decrease if you use the word 'beaucoup', so aimer beaucoup can sometimes feel less intense than a simple aimer.
- The word aimer shares the same Latin root as the English word 'amorous', which relates to being in love.
Examples in context
- Il faut aimer Tom.You've got to like Tom.This sentence shows the use of aimer in the context of needing to like someone.Tatoeba #9463716 by Micsmithel, translation #5748155 by CM
- Tu apprendras à l'aimer.You'll come to like her.This sentence illustrates the process of coming to like someone using aimer.Tatoeba #338159 by shiboy, translation #15779 by Swift
- Vous allez bien l'aimer.You're going to like him.This sentence demonstrates a future intention to like someone using aimer.Tatoeba #11813482 by lbdx, translation #3912848 by CH
- J'aime les fleurs.I like flowers.
- J'apprécie votre travail.I appreciate your work.
- J'adore cette chanson !I love this song!
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new film.
- ManonTu vas aimer ce film.You are going to like this movie.
- HugoJ'espère que je vais l'aimer.I hope I will like it.
- ManonOui, je l'aime beaucoup.Yes, I like it a lot.
- HugoC'est super, Manon.That is great, Manon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry aimer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aimer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
