Learning a new language can be fun and useful. French is a beautiful language spoken by millions of people around the world. One of the first things to learn is how to say positive words like “great.” Knowing this helps you express happiness, approval, or excitement in everyday conversations.
In this article, we will explore different ways to say “great” in French. You will also learn how to respond when someone says something nice and practice with simple exercises. By the end, you’ll feel more confident using these words in real-life conversations. Let’s get started!
Ways to Say “Great” in French
In French, there are many ways to express the word “great.” Depending on the situation, you can choose formal or casual words. These words can show excitement, appreciation, or approval. Let’s explore some popular ways to say “great” in French.
1. Super
Pronunciation: soo-pehr
Meaning: Great, awesome
In a Sentence:
- Ce film était super! (That movie was great!)
- Tu as fait un travail super. (You did a great job.)
2. Génial
Pronunciation: zhay-nyal
Meaning: Awesome, fantastic
In a Sentence:
- C’est génial de te voir! (It’s great to see you!)
- Ton idée est géniale! (Your idea is fantastic!)
3. Magnifique
Pronunciation: mag-nee-feek
Meaning: Wonderful, beautiful
In a Sentence:
- La vue est magnifique! (The view is wonderful!)
- Tu as fait un dessin magnifique. (You made a beautiful drawing.)
4. Excellent
Pronunciation: ex-say-lahn
Meaning: Excellent, outstanding
In a Sentence:
- Ton résultat est excellent! (Your result is excellent!)
- Le repas était excellent. (The meal was outstanding.)
5. Fantastique
Pronunciation: fahn-tas-teek
Meaning: Fantastic, amazing
In a Sentence:
- Le concert était fantastique! (The concert was fantastic!)
- C’est fantastique que tu sois ici! (It’s amazing that you are here!)
6. Formidable
Pronunciation: for-mee-dah-bluh
Meaning: Great, wonderful
In a Sentence:
- C’était une expérience formidable! (It was a wonderful experience!)
- Ton discours était formidable. (Your speech was great.)
7. Parfait
Pronunciation: par-fay
Meaning: Perfect, great
In a Sentence:
- C’est un jour parfait pour une promenade. (It’s a perfect day for a walk.)
- Ton travail est parfait! (Your work is perfect!)
8. Merveilleux
Pronunciation: mehr-vay-yuh
Meaning: Marvelous, wonderful
In a Sentence:
- Quelle journée merveilleuse! (What a wonderful day!)
- Ton aide a été merveilleuse. (Your help was marvelous.)
9. Sensationnel
Pronunciation: sahn-sah-syo-nel
Meaning: Sensational, fantastic
In a Sentence:
- Le spectacle était sensationnel! (The show was sensational!)
- Ta performance était sensationnelle. (Your performance was fantastic.)
10. Épatant
Pronunciation: ay-pah-tahn
Meaning: Splendid, impressive
In a Sentence:
- C’est un résultat épatant! (That’s an impressive result!)
- Tu as fait un travail épatant. (You did splendid work.)
11. Incroyable
Pronunciation: ahn-krwah-yah-bluh
Meaning: Incredible, amazing
In a Sentence:
- C’est incroyable! (That’s incredible!)
- Ton histoire est incroyable. (Your story is amazing.)
12. Chouette
Pronunciation: shoo-et
Meaning: Nice, great (informal)
In a Sentence:
- Quelle chouette surprise! (What a great surprise!)
- Ce jeu est vraiment chouette. (This game is really great.)
13. Admirable
Pronunciation: ahd-mee-rabluh
Meaning: Admirable, praiseworthy
In a Sentence:
- Ton courage est admirable. (Your courage is admirable.)
- Son dévouement est admirable. (His dedication is praiseworthy.)
14. Splendide
Pronunciation: splawn-deed
Meaning: Splendid, magnificent
In a Sentence:
- La vue sur la montagne est splendide. (The view of the mountain is splendid.)
- Quelle soirée splendide! (What a magnificent evening!)
15. Remarquable
Pronunciation: ruh-mar-kah-bluh
Meaning: Remarkable, outstanding
In a Sentence:
- Son talent est remarquable. (His talent is remarkable.)
- Leur succès est remarquable. (Their success is outstanding.)
16. Bravo
Pronunciation: brah-voh
Meaning: Well done, great job
In a Sentence:
- Bravo pour ta réussite! (Great job on your success!)
- Bravo à tous pour votre travail! (Well done, everyone, for your work!)
17. Extra
Pronunciation: ex-trah
Meaning: Great, extra special
In a Sentence:
- Cette journée était extra! (This day was great!)
- Le dessert était extra! (The dessert was extra special!)
18. Fabuleux
Pronunciation: fah-boo-leuh
Meaning: Fabulous, wonderful
In a Sentence:
- Le voyage était fabuleux! (The trip was fabulous!)
- Quelle aventure fabuleuse! (What a fabulous adventure!)
19. Génie
Pronunciation: zhay-nee
Meaning: Genius, great mind (used casually)
In a Sentence:
- Tu es un vrai génie! (You’re a real genius!)
- Cette idée est de génie! (That idea is genius!)
20. Inoubliable
Pronunciation: ee-noo-blee-ah-bluh
Meaning: Unforgettable, great
In a Sentence:
- C’était une soirée inoubliable. (It was an unforgettable evening.)
- Le voyage était inoubliable! (The trip was unforgettable!)
21. Top
Pronunciation: top
Meaning: Great, top-notch (informal)
In a Sentence:
- Ton travail est vraiment top! (Your work is really great!)
- Ce restaurant est top! (This restaurant is top-notch!)
22. Champion
Pronunciation: shahm-pee-ohn
Meaning: Champion, great one
In a Sentence:
- Tu es un champion! (You’re a champion!)
- Bravo, champion! (Well done, champ!)
23. Superbe
Pronunciation: soo-pehr-buh
Meaning: Superb, excellent
In a Sentence:
- La performance était superbe! (The performance was superb!)
- Ton projet est superbe! (Your project is excellent!)
24. C’est génial
Pronunciation: say zhay-nyal
Meaning: That’s great
In a Sentence:
- C’est génial que tu sois là! (It’s great that you’re here!)
- C’est génial d’apprendre ça! (That’s great to learn!)
25. Parfaitement
Pronunciation: par-fay-tuh-mahn
Meaning: Perfectly, just right
In a Sentence:
- Tout est parfaitement organisé. (Everything is perfectly organized.)
- Le plan a fonctionné parfaitement. (The plan worked perfectly.)
26. Impressionnant
Pronunciation: ehm-pres-yoh-nahng
Meaning: Impressive, great
In a Sentence:
- Ton discours était impressionnant! (Your speech was impressive!)
- Quel travail impressionnant! (What impressive work!)
27. Exceptionnel
Pronunciation: ex-sep-syon-nel
Meaning: Exceptional, outstanding
In a Sentence:
- C’est un artiste exceptionnel! (He’s an exceptional artist!)
- Le service ici est exceptionnel. (The service here is outstanding.)
28. Phénoménal
Pronunciation: fay-noh-may-nahl
Meaning: Phenomenal, amazing
In a Sentence:
- Le spectacle était phénoménal! (The show was phenomenal!)
- Ta performance a été phénoménale. (Your performance was amazing.)
29. Éclatant
Pronunciation: ay-klah-tahng
Meaning: Brilliant, dazzling
In a Sentence:
- Sa réussite est éclatante! (His success is brilliant!)
- Un sourire éclatant illumine son visage. (A dazzling smile lights up his face.)
30. Prodige
Pronunciation: proh-deezh
Meaning: Prodigy, extraordinary
In a Sentence:
- Cet enfant est un vrai prodige! (That child is a real prodigy!)
- Elle joue du piano comme un prodige. (She plays the piano like a prodigy.)
Other Ways to Say “Great” in French
Here is a list of alternative ways to say “great” in French. These words fit various situations, from casual chats to formal discussions.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Fabuleux | fah-boo-leuh | Fabulous, wonderful | Ce voyage était fabuleux! (The trip was fabulous!) |
| Admirable | ahd-mee-rabluh | Admirable, praiseworthy | Son dévouement est admirable. (His dedication is praiseworthy.) |
| Merveilleux | mehr-vay-yuh | Marvelous, wonderful | Quelle journée merveilleuse! (What a wonderful day!) |
| Splendide | splawn-deed | Splendid, magnificent | La vue sur la montagne est splendide. (The view of the mountain is splendid.) |
| Remarquable | ruh-mar-kah-bluh | Remarkable, outstanding | Leur succès est remarquable. (Their success is outstanding.) |
| Phénoménal | fay-noh-may-nahl | Phenomenal, amazing | Le spectacle était phénoménal! (The show was phenomenal!) |
| Extra | ex-trah | Extra special, great | Le dessert était extra! (The dessert was extra special!) |
| Sensationnel | sahn-sah-syo-nel | Sensational, fantastic | Sa performance était sensationnelle. (His performance was fantastic.) |
| Exceptionnel | ex-sep-syon-nel | Exceptional, outstanding | Le service ici est exceptionnel. (The service here is outstanding.) |
| Impressionnant | ehm-pres-yoh-nahng | Impressive, great | Ton discours était impressionnant! (Your speech was impressive!) |
Responses to “Great” in French
When someone says something great in French, you can respond in many ways to show agreement, appreciation, or excitement. Here are some common responses:
1. Merci beaucoup
Pronunciation: mehr-see boh-koo
Meaning: Thank you very much
In a Sentence: Merci beaucoup pour ton aide! (Thank you very much for your help!)
2. C’est génial!
Pronunciation: say zhay-nyal
Meaning: That’s great!
In a Sentence: C’est génial que tu sois venu! (It’s great that you came!)
3. Bravo!
Pronunciation: brah-voh
Meaning: Well done!
In a Sentence: Bravo pour ta réussite! (Well done on your success!)
4. Fantastique!
Pronunciation: fahn-tas-teek
Meaning: Fantastic!
In a Sentence: Fantastique, tu as réussi ton examen! (Fantastic, you passed your exam!)
5. C’est incroyable!
Pronunciation: say ahn-krwah-yah-bluh
Meaning: That’s incredible!
In a Sentence: C’est incroyable comme tu as progressé! (It’s incredible how much you’ve improved!)
6. Bien joué!
Pronunciation: byan zhoo-ay
Meaning: Well played!
In a Sentence: Bien joué pour ton match de foot! (Well played in your soccer game!)
7. Félicitations!
Pronunciation: fay-lee-see-tah-syohn
Meaning: Congratulations!
In a Sentence: Félicitations pour ta promotion! (Congratulations on your promotion!)
8. C’est super!
Pronunciation: say soo-pehr
Meaning: That’s great!
In a Sentence: C’est super que tu sois là! (It’s great that you are here!)
9. Formidable!
Pronunciation: for-mee-dah-bluh
Meaning: Wonderful!
In a Sentence: Formidable, tu as accompli ton projet! (Wonderful, you completed your project!)
10. Magnifique!
Pronunciation: mag-nee-feek
Meaning: Magnificent!
In a Sentence: Ton travail est magnifique! (Your work is magnificent!)
11. Parfait!
Pronunciation: par-fay
Meaning: Perfect!
In a Sentence: Parfait, nous avons terminé à temps! (Perfect, we finished on time!)
12. Impressionnant!
Pronunciation: ehm-pres-yoh-nahng
Meaning: Impressive!
In a Sentence: Impressionnant, tu as réussi tous tes examens! (Impressive, you passed all your exams!)
13. Sensationnel!
Pronunciation: sahn-sah-syo-nel
Meaning: Sensational!
In a Sentence: Sensationnel, ta prestation était incroyable! (Sensational, your performance was incredible!)
14. Excellent!
Pronunciation: ex-say-lahn
Meaning: Excellent!
In a Sentence: Excellent, tu as obtenu la meilleure note! (Excellent, you got the highest grade!)
15. Merveilleux!
Pronunciation: mehr-vay-yuh
Meaning: Marvelous!
In a Sentence: Merveilleux, vous avez gagné le concours! (Marvelous, you won the contest!)
16. Extraordinaire!
Pronunciation: ex-trah-or-dee-nair
Meaning: Extraordinary!
In a Sentence: Extraordinaire, ton idée a tout changé! (Extraordinary, your idea changed everything!)
17. Bien fait!
Pronunciation: byan feh
Meaning: Well done!
In a Sentence: Bien fait, tu as accompli une tâche difficile! (Well done, you completed a difficult task!)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Great” in French
Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct French word or phrase for “great.” The entire sentence is in French, with meanings provided after the answers.
Fill-in-the-Blanks:
- Ton idée est vraiment _______! (awesome)
- Le spectacle était _______ hier soir. (fantastic)
- C’est _______ que tu sois là! (great)
- Leur réussite est absolument _______. (remarkable)
- Le film était _______ du début à la fin. (sensational)
- Ce restaurant est _______! (top-notch)
- C’était un voyage _______! (fabulous)
- Votre discours était _______! (impressive)
- La vue depuis la montagne est _______. (magnificent)
- Ton aide a été _______ pendant le projet. (marvelous)
- Tu as fait un travail _______ sur ce projet. (excellent)
- L’événement était absolument _______. (extraordinary)
Answers:
- géniale (awesome)
- fantastique (fantastic)
- super (great)
- remarquable (remarkable)
- sensationnel (sensational)
- top (top-notch)
- fabuleux (fabulous)
- impressionnant (impressive)
- splendide (magnificent)
- merveilleux (marvelous)
- excellent (excellent)
- extraordinaire (extraordinary)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “great” in French is a valuable way to express positivity in conversations. Whether you are praising someone’s work, sharing excitement, or simply responding to good news, these words will help you sound more natural and confident.
Keep practicing these expressions regularly. The more you use them, the easier they will become. Soon, saying “great” in French will feel just as comfortable as saying it in English!