Sayings or proverbs have a very important role in any culture and language, and the French language is no exception. They provide people with insight into the values and beliefs of the culture and give them a glimpse into the attitude of french people. We’ll show you 7 of the most common sayings in French and give you a little insight into what they mean and when to use them.
Why use sayings in french?
Sayings are often used in French to add color and depth to our daily conversations or even offer a piece of advice to someone else.
They are commonly used in writing, particularly in journalism, literature, and very recently, in social media to add nuance to the text or to the caption. And even if we use it as a daily tool, we have to keep in mind that this goes way back and that sayings are a very important part of French culture.
French sayings are crucial because they voice traditional values and wisdom and they can provide insight into the attitudes and beliefs of the French-speaking world.
7 common sayings for your day-to-day life
We have a few examples of french sayings for you so you can start using them in your daily conversations:
La nuit porte conseil.
The night brings advice.
The meaning of this saying is that you should take your time before making a decision.
Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.
As one makes one’s bed, one lies down.
There’s actually a very similar saying in English that says: you’ve made your bed, you lie in it. It’s a warning that you suffer the consequences of your actions.
Impossible n’est pas français.
Impossible isn’t French.
This is a saying that’s attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. It means that nothing is impossible, or that impossible does not exist in the French language.
Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.
Nothing should be left to chance.
You should be taking this as a piece of advice, that you should really plan ahead.
Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
Better late than ever.
Here we have another example of a French saying that can also be found in English. It’s better to do something late than not to do it alone.
Après la pluie, le beau temps.
After the rain, good weather.
This is a way of encouraging someone to keep going, to hang in there, and everything will get better.
Les murs ont des oreilles.
The walls have ears.
People use this as advice to be careful of what they say because anyone can be listening to them.
Learn more about the Best French proverbs
You can now use French sayings however you like
Using sayings on a daily basis can be a great way to expand your vocabulary and improve your overall language skills as well as understand the French language and culture. They add flair and sophistication to the language, making it more enjoyable to read and hear. Sayings frequently voice a lot of meaning in just a few words, making them a powerful tool for expressing complex ideas concisely.
