Learning a new language can be fun and rewarding. French is known for its beautiful sounds and useful phrases. If you are just starting, it helps to learn common words used in everyday conversations.
One of the most important words in any language is “are.” In French, it is used in many different ways depending on the subject and sentence type. In this article, you will learn how to say “are” in French, explore different variations, and practice using it in real-life sentences. This will help you sound more natural when speaking French.
Ways to Say “Are” in French
The word “are” in French changes based on the subject of the sentence. In French, the verb “être” (to be) is commonly used to express “are.” Let’s explore different ways to say “are” in French with examples for better understanding.
1. Tu es
Pronunciation: tew eh
Meaning: You are (informal, singular)
In a Sentence:
- Tu es gentil. (You are kind.)
- Tu es prêt ? (Are you ready?)
2. Vous êtes
Pronunciation: voo zeht
Meaning: You are (formal or plural)
In a Sentence:
- Vous êtes en retard. (You are late.)
- Vous êtes américains ? (Are you Americans?)
3. Il est
Pronunciation: eel eh
Meaning: He is
In a Sentence:
- Il est médecin. (He is a doctor.)
- Il est fatigué. (He is tired.)
4. Elle est
Pronunciation: el eh
Meaning: She is
In a Sentence:
- Elle est étudiante. (She is a student.)
- Elle est heureuse. (She is happy.)
5. Nous sommes
Pronunciation: noo sohm
Meaning: We are
In a Sentence:
- Nous sommes en vacances. (We are on vacation.)
- Nous sommes prêts. (We are ready.)
6. Ils sont
Pronunciation: eel sohn
Meaning: They are (masculine or mixed)
In a Sentence:
- Ils sont à la maison. (They are at home.)
- Ils sont intelligents. (They are smart.)
7. Elles sont
Pronunciation: el sohn
Meaning: They are (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Elles sont étudiantes. (They are students.)
- Elles sont contentes. (They are happy.)
8. C’est
Pronunciation: say
Meaning: It is / This is
In a Sentence:
- C’est un bon film. (It is a good movie.)
- C’est incroyable ! (This is amazing!)
9. Ce sont
Pronunciation: suh sohn
Meaning: They are / These are
In a Sentence:
- Ce sont mes amis. (They are my friends.)
- Ce sont de beaux endroits. (These are beautiful places.)
10. On est
Pronunciation: ohn eh
Meaning: We are (informal) / People are
In a Sentence:
- On est contents aujourd’hui. (We are happy today.)
- On est toujours occupés. (We are always busy.)
11. Y a-t-il
Pronunciation: ee ah teel
Meaning: Are there? (question form)
In a Sentence:
- Y a-t-il des questions ? (Are there any questions?)
- Y a-t-il un problème ? (Is there a problem?)
12. Est-ce que
Pronunciation: es kuh
Meaning: Are…? (question starter)
In a Sentence:
- Est-ce que tu es prêt ? (Are you ready?)
- Est-ce qu’ils sont là ? (Are they there?)
13. Sommes-nous
Pronunciation: sohm noo
Meaning: Are we…? (formal)
In a Sentence:
- Sommes-nous en retard ? (Are we late?)
- Sommes-nous d’accord ? (Do we agree?)
14. Êtes-vous
Pronunciation: eht voo
Meaning: Are you…? (formal/plural)
In a Sentence:
- Êtes-vous libre ce soir ? (Are you free tonight?)
- Êtes-vous français ? (Are you French?)
15. Sont-ils
Pronunciation: sohn teel
Meaning: Are they…? (masculine/mixed)
In a Sentence:
- Sont-ils amis ? (Are they friends?)
- Sont-ils d’accord ? (Do they agree?)
16. Sont-elles
Pronunciation: sohn tel
Meaning: Are they…? (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Sont-elles en ville ? (Are they in town?)
- Sont-elles prêtes ? (Are they ready?)
17. Es-tu
Pronunciation: eh tew
Meaning: Are you…? (informal, singular)
In a Sentence:
- Es-tu content ? (Are you happy?)
- Es-tu prêt ? (Are you ready?)
18. Suis-je
Pronunciation: swee zhuh
Meaning: Am I…?
In a Sentence:
- Suis-je le premier ? (Am I the first?)
- Suis-je en retard ? (Am I late?)
19. Serais-tu
Pronunciation: suh-ray tew
Meaning: Would you be…? (conditional)
In a Sentence:
- Serais-tu intéressé ? (Would you be interested?)
- Serais-tu disponible ? (Would you be available?)
20. Serions-nous
Pronunciation: suh-ree-ohn noo
Meaning: Would we be…? (conditional)
In a Sentence:
- Serions-nous à l’heure ? (Would we be on time?)
- Serions-nous prêts ? (Would we be ready?)
21. Serait-il
Pronunciation: suh-ray teel
Meaning: Would he be…? (conditional)
In a Sentence:
- Serait-il malade ? (Would he be sick?)
- Serait-il disponible demain ? (Would he be available tomorrow?)
22. Serait-elle
Pronunciation: suh-ray tel
Meaning: Would she be…? (conditional)
In a Sentence:
- Serait-elle intéressée ? (Would she be interested?)
- Serait-elle prête ? (Would she be ready?)
23. Y a-t-il des…
Pronunciation: ee ah teel deh…
Meaning: Are there…? (questions)
In a Sentence:
- Y a-t-il des pommes ? (Are there apples?)
- Y a-t-il des invités ? (Are there guests?)
24. Sont-ils prêts ?
Pronunciation: sohn teel preh
Meaning: Are they ready? (masculine/mixed)
In a Sentence:
- Sont-ils prêts à partir ? (Are they ready to leave?)
- Sont-ils prêts pour l’examen ? (Are they ready for the exam?)
25. Sont-elles disponibles ?
Pronunciation: sohn tel dees-poh-neebl
Meaning: Are they available? (feminine)
In a Sentence:
- Sont-elles disponibles demain ? (Are they available tomorrow?)
- Sont-elles disponibles pour le projet ? (Are they available for the project?)
26. Es-ce possible ?
Pronunciation: es kuh poh-see-bluh
Meaning: Is it possible?
In a Sentence:
- Est-ce possible de venir demain ? (Is it possible to come tomorrow?)
- Est-ce possible de terminer aujourd’hui ? (Is it possible to finish today?)
27. Es-tu sûr ?
Pronunciation: eh tew sewr
Meaning: Are you sure? (informal)
In a Sentence:
- Es-tu sûr de la réponse ? (Are you sure about the answer?)
- Es-tu sûr que c’est vrai ? (Are you sure it’s true?)
28. Sommes-nous prêts ?
Pronunciation: sohm noo preh
Meaning: Are we ready?
In a Sentence:
- Sommes-nous prêts pour l’examen ? (Are we ready for the exam?)
- Sommes-nous prêts à partir ? (Are we ready to leave?)
29. Sont-ils là ?
Pronunciation: sohn teel lah
Meaning: Are they there? (masculine/mixed)
In a Sentence:
- Sont-ils là pour la réunion ? (Are they there for the meeting?)
- Sont-ils là maintenant ? (Are they there now?)
30. Est-elle contente ?
Pronunciation: eh tel kon-tahnt
Meaning: Is she happy?
In a Sentence:
- Est-elle contente de sa note ? (Is she happy with her grade?)
- Est-elle contente du résultat ? (Is she happy with the result?)
Other Ways to Say “Are” in French
Below is a table with additional ways to say “are” in French, including pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Es-tu prêt ? | eh tew preh | Are you ready? (informal) | Es-tu prêt pour le voyage ? (Are you ready for the trip?) |
| Êtes-vous ici ? | eht voo ee-see | Are you here? (formal) | Êtes-vous ici pour la réunion ? (Are you here for the meeting?) |
| Sommes-nous d’accord ? | sohm noo dah-kohr | Are we in agreement? | Sommes-nous d’accord sur le plan ? (Are we in agreement on the plan?) |
| Sont-ils à la maison ? | sohn teel ah lah meh-zohn | Are they at home? (masculine/mixed) | Sont-ils à la maison ce soir ? (Are they at home tonight?) |
| Sont-elles prêtes ? | sohn tel preht | Are they ready? (feminine) | Sont-elles prêtes pour le voyage ? (Are they ready for the trip?) |
| Est-il là ? | es teel lah | Is he there? | Est-il là pour l’interview ? (Is he there for the interview?) |
| Est-elle occupée ? | es tel oh-kew-pay | Is she busy? | Est-elle occupée cet après-midi ? (Is she busy this afternoon?) |
| Y a-t-il quelqu’un ? | ee ah teel kel-kun | Is anyone there? | Y a-t-il quelqu’un à la porte ? (Is anyone at the door?) |
| Est-ce bon ? | es kuh bon | Is it good? | Est-ce bon à manger ? (Is it good to eat?) |
| C’est possible ? | say poh-see-bluh | Is it possible? | C’est possible de partir tôt ? (Is it possible to leave early?) |
| Suis-je prêt ? | swee zhuh preh | Am I ready? | Suis-je prêt pour l’examen ? (Am I ready for the exam?) |
| Serons-nous là ? | suh-rohn noo lah | Will we be there? | Serons-nous là à l’heure ? (Will we be there on time?) |
Responses to “Are” in French
When asked a question using “are” in French, there are several common ways to respond, depending on the context. These responses can be affirmative, negative, or express uncertainty. Let’s explore different responses with examples.
1. Oui, je le suis
Pronunciation: wee zhuh luh swee
Meaning: Yes, I am
In a Sentence:
- Es-tu prêt ? (Are you ready?) – Oui, je le suis. (Yes, I am.)
2. Non, je ne le suis pas
Pronunciation: noh zhuh nuh luh swee pah
Meaning: No, I am not
In a Sentence:
- Es-tu fatigué ? (Are you tired?) – Non, je ne le suis pas. (No, I am not.)
3. Peut-être
Pronunciation: puh-teh-truh
Meaning: Maybe
In a Sentence:
- Sont-ils prêts ? (Are they ready?) – Peut-être. (Maybe.)
4. Pas encore
Pronunciation: pah ahn-kohr
Meaning: Not yet
In a Sentence:
- Sommes-nous prêts ? (Are we ready?) – Pas encore. (Not yet.)
5. Bien sûr
Pronunciation: byehn sewr
Meaning: Of course
In a Sentence:
- Es-tu disponible ? (Are you available?) – Bien sûr. (Of course.)
6. Je pense que oui
Pronunciation: zhuh pohns kuh wee
Meaning: I think so
In a Sentence:
- Est-il prêt ? (Is he ready?) – Je pense que oui. (I think so.)
7. Je ne sais pas
Pronunciation: zhuh nuh seh pah
Meaning: I don’t know
In a Sentence:
- Est-elle là ? (Is she there?) – Je ne sais pas. (I don’t know.)
8. Absolument
Pronunciation: ab-so-luh-mahn
Meaning: Absolutely
In a Sentence:
- Sommes-nous invités ? (Are we invited?) – Absolument. (Absolutely.)
9. Certainement pas
Pronunciation: sehr-ten-mahn pah
Meaning: Certainly not
In a Sentence:
- Sont-ils ici ? (Are they here?) – Certainement pas. (Certainly not.)
10. Peut-être que non
Pronunciation: puh-teh-truh kuh noh
Meaning: Maybe not
In a Sentence:
- Est-ce possible ? (Is it possible?) – Peut-être que non. (Maybe not.)
Exercise to Practice “Are” in French
Complete the sentences below by filling in the blanks with the correct form of “are” in French. Choose from the provided options.
Fill-in-the-Blanks:
- _______ -vous prêts pour le voyage ? (Are you ready for the trip?)
- Est-ce que tu _______ ici pour la réunion ? (Are you here for the meeting?)
- Ils _______ en retard pour le film. (They are late for the movie.)
- _______ -nous à la bonne adresse ? (Are we at the right address?)
- Elle _______ heureuse de son succès. (She is happy with her success.)
- Est-ce qu’ils _______ disponibles demain ? (Are they available tomorrow?)
- Tu _______ sûr de ta réponse ? (Are you sure about your answer?)
- Nous _______ contents de te voir ! (We are happy to see you!)
- Est-ce qu’il _______ à la maison ce soir ? (Is he home tonight?)
- Elles _______ prêtes pour l’examen. (They are ready for the exam.)
- Je _______ le premier à arriver ? (Am I the first to arrive?)
- Y a-t-il des personnes qui _______ intéressées par ce projet ? (Are there people interested in this project?)
Answers:
- Êtes
- Es
- Sont
- Sommes
- Est
- Sont
- Es
- Sommes
- Est
- Sont
- Suis
- Sont
Conclusion
Learning how to say “are” in French is essential for building sentences and communicating clearly. The verb “être” is used in various forms depending on the subject and context. Whether you are asking questions, making statements, or responding to others, mastering these forms helps you sound natural and confident in conversations.
Keep practicing the different ways to say “are” in French through exercises, real-life examples, and conversations with others. The more you use these expressions, the easier it will be to remember them. With time and practice, speaking French will become second nature. Bon courage! (Good luck!)