Positive words in French
Positive French words for describing people, naming good feelings and wishing someone well, each with the English word, the form for a woman, and a sentence you could say today.
34 words 10 phrases Updated Run by Adrian Nutiu PDF
Words for people 16
Adjectives for what someone is like. Most add -e for a woman or a girl, and some change more.
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gentil , for a woman: gentille
Ta grand-mère est très gentille avec tout le monde.
Your grandmother is very kind to everyone.
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heureux , for a woman: heureuse
Je suis heureux de te revoir.
I'm happy to see you again.
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courageux , for a woman: courageuse
Tu as été très courageuse chez le dentiste.
You were very brave at the dentist.
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généreux , for a woman: généreuse
Notre voisin est généreux de son temps.
Our neighbor is generous with his time.
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honnête
Il a toujours été honnête avec nous.
He has always been honest with us.
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sympathique
La nouvelle maîtresse est très sympathique.
The new teacher is very friendly.
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travailleur , for a woman: travailleuse
C'est la personne la plus travailleuse de l'équipe.
She is the most hardworking person on the team.
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patient , for a woman: patiente
Merci d'être si patiente avec moi.
Thank you for being so patient with me.
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intelligent , for a woman: intelligente
C'est une petite fille intelligente et curieuse.
She's a smart, curious little girl.
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drôle
Mon frère est le plus drôle de la famille.
My brother is the funniest in the family.
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joyeux , for a woman: joyeuse
Elle a un rire joyeux qui fait sourire tout le monde.
She has a cheerful laugh that makes everyone smile.
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fidèle
Un ami fidèle ne te laisse pas tomber.
A loyal friend doesn't let you down.
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fort , for a woman: forte
Tu es plus forte que tu ne le crois.
You're stronger than you think.
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créatif , for a woman: créative
Ton idée pour la fête est très créative.
Your idea for the party is very creative.
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affectueux , for a woman: affectueuse
Notre chien est très affectueux avec les enfants.
Our dog is very affectionate with children.
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optimiste
Je reste optimiste : on va y arriver.
I'm still optimistic: we'll get there.
Good feelings 10
How you feel right now. Feelings take être: je suis ravie, nous sommes soulagés.
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la joie
Quelle joie de te voir !
What a joy to see you!
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calme
Maintenant qu'elle a appelé, je suis plus calme.
Now that she's called, I feel calmer.
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fier , for a woman: fière
Nous sommes très fiers de toi.
We're very proud of you.
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reconnaissant , for a woman: reconnaissante
Je te suis très reconnaissante de ton aide.
I'm very grateful for your help.
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ravi , for a woman: ravie
Je suis ravi de faire ta connaissance.
I'm delighted to meet you.
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content , for a woman: contente
Il est content de son nouveau travail.
He's happy with his new job.
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l' (m.) espoir
Ne perds jamais espoir.
Never lose hope.
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la paix
Enfin un peu de paix.
At last, a little peace.
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l' (m.) amour
Je te le dis avec tout mon amour.
I'm saying it with all my love.
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le bonheur
Je vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheur.
I wish you lots of happiness.
Good wishes and good things 8
Nouns for cards, messages and toasts. The article shows whether the word is masculine or feminine.
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la réussite
Je te souhaite une belle réussite dans ton nouveau poste.
Wishing you great success in your new job.
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la chance
Bonne chance pour ton examen demain !
Good luck in your exam tomorrow!
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le courage
Bon courage pour cette semaine chargée !
Hang in there this busy week!
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la force
Je t'envoie beaucoup de force.
Sending you lots of strength.
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la gentillesse
Merci pour ta gentillesse avec ma mère.
Thank you for your kindness to my mother.
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le sourire
Ton sourire illumine ma journée.
Your smile lights up my day.
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le câlin
Un gros câlin à toute la famille.
A big hug to the whole family.
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la sérénité
Je vous souhaite une année pleine de sérénité.
Wishing you a year full of serenity.
Phrases to encourage and congratulate 10
What people actually say, in a message, a card or out loud.
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Tu vas y arriver !
You'll get there! You can do it!
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Bon courage !
Hang in there! Good luck with it!
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Bravo !
Well done!
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Bien joué !
Nicely done!
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Félicitations !
Congratulations!
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Je suis fier de toi.
I'm proud of you.
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Ne lâche rien !
Don't give up!
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Ça va aller.
It's going to be OK.
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Je suis là pour toi.
I'm here for you.
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C'est génial !
That's great!
False friends
Words that look like English but mean something else, and the word to use instead.
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sensible
Looks like "sensible", but means sensitive. For sensible, say raisonnable.
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sympathique
Looks like "sympathetic", but means friendly, nice to be with. For sympathetic, say compréhensif.
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excité
Looks like "excited", but means worked up, overexcited. To say you're excited about something, say j'ai hâte (I can't wait).
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formidable
Looks like "formidable", but means wonderful, great: c'est formidable, that's wonderful.
Using the words
- Most adjectives add -e for a woman or a girl: patient, patiente. Some change more: heureux, heureuse; gentil, gentille. Those already ending in -e stay the same: calme, fidèle.
- French puts a space before ! ? : and ;, as in Bravo ! Keep it when you write a card.
- Use tu with a friend, a child or family, and vous with someone you don't know well or with more than one person.
Translations and sentences are written for this site, and each French word was checked against its Wiktionary entry. How words are chosen and reviewed.
Questions people ask
- What are some positive words in French?
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gentil (kind), heureux (happy), courageux (brave), généreux (generous), honnête (honest), sympathique (friendly). This page has 34, each with an example sentence.
Words for people - How do you say "you can do it" in French?
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Tu vas y arriver ! The page lists 10 phrases to encourage and congratulate, with when to use each.
Phrases - Do French adjectives change for a woman?
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Many do: gentil becomes gentille. Most adjectives add -e for a woman or a girl: patient, patiente. Some change more: heureux, heureuse; gentil, gentille. Those already ending in -e stay the same: calme, fidèle.
Using the words