très heureux
The English phrase "very happy" is translated into French as très heureux.
très heureux is used to describe a person feeling or showing a great deal of pleasure or satisfaction.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the adverb très, which means "very".
Which one should you use?
While très heureux expresses a state of being happy, the phrase très content is often used for a more immediate or situational sense of satisfaction or being pleased.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective 'heureux' must agree in gender with the subject, changing to très heureuse if the subject is female. The adjective 'heureux' remains the same in both the masculine singular and the masculine plural forms. The feminine plural form of the adjective is très heureuses.
Did you know?
- The adverb 'très' shares an ancient root with the English word 'through'. It comes from the Latin 'trans', which describes moving 'through' or 'over' something.
- In French, being 'très heureux' is more closely related to being 'lucky' than simply having a good mood. The word 'heureux' stems from 'heur', an old word for 'luck' or 'fortune'.
- In French, the concept of 'happiness' is split between bonheur, which is a state of lasting well-being, and joie, which is a sudden burst of joy. Très heureux typically describes the former.
Examples in context
- Il fut très heureux.He was very happy.This sentence demonstrates the use of très heureux with a masculine subject in the past tense.Tatoeba #1675414 by sacredceltic, translation #292094 by CK
- Je suis très heureux.I'm very happy.This sentence shows how to express "I'm very happy" using très heureux.Tatoeba #1017252 by sacredceltic, translation #255245 by CK
- Ils sont très heureux.They're very happy.This sentence demonstrates the use of très heureux with a masculine plural subject.Tatoeba #8938238 by Julien_PDC, translation #5469957 by CK
- Je suis très heureux de vous rencontrer.I am very happy to meet you.
- Je suis super content de te voir !I am really happy to see you!
- Elle était aux anges en ouvrant son cadeau.She was over the moon when she opened her gift.
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are meeting at a cafe to celebrate Hugo's promotion.
- LéaFélicitations pour ton nouveau travail, Hugo !Congratulations on your new job, Hugo!
- HugoMerci, je suis très heureux de cette nouvelle.Thank you, I am very happy about this news.
- LéaTu le mérites vraiment.You really deserve it.
- HugoC'est très gentil de ta part.That is very kind of you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries heureux, très, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
