Phrases with Avoir in French
Numerous common French idiomatic expressions use the verb ‘avoir,’ and familiarizing yourself with them will enhance your ability to sound like a native speaker! These phrases with avoir in French are expressions that are frequently used in everyday French conversations.
To continue with this article you will first need to know the conjugation of the French verb ‘avoir’ which means ‘to have’.
Avoir in present tense conjugates as:
| Singular Pronouns | Plural Pronouns |
| J’ai – I have | Nous avons – We have |
| Tu as – You have (Informal) | Vous avez – You have (formal & Plural) |
| Il/Elle a – He/She has | Ils/Elles ont – They have (masc & fém) |
What is an Idiom?
An idiom is a specific phrase or expression whose meaning is not obvious from its individual words or grammatical structure. Idiomatic expressions often cannot be translated literally without causing misunderstanding. For instance, in French, the verb “aller” (to go), when paired with an adverb, is used to describe a person’s well-being, as in: Je vais bien. – I’m fine. I am doing well.
In contrast, while English uses the verb “to be” to describe certain physical conditions, in French, the same idea is expressed by combining the verb “avoir” (to have) with a noun which are broadly called as Phrase with avoir or expressions avec avoir in French.
Phrases with Avoir in French
As you’ve likely observed during your French learning journey, numerous expressions are constructed by combining the verb ‘avoir’ with another word, frequently a noun. The most common example that you would already be familiar with is the use of ‘avoir’ when talking about age.
- Quel age as-tu? – Literal translation is ‘How many years do you have?’
- J’ai douze ans.
This manner of conveying ideas parallels the English usage of “to be”. Instead of employing “to be” with an adjective, as we do in English, the French language utilizes ‘avoir’ with a noun to convey a similar notion.
Everyday Expressions with Avoir
Let us understand the concept, with some everyday expressions which are phrases with avoir in French:
- Avoir faim – to be hungry
- Avoir soif – to be thirsty
- Avoir chaud – to be hot
- Avoir froid – to be cold
- Avoir sommeil – to be sleepy
- Avoir peur – to be afraid
- Avoir raison – to be right
- Avoir tort – to be wrong
- Avoir trente ans – to be thirty year old
- Avoir de la chance – to be lucky
- Avoir de la fièvre – to have a fever
- Avoir envie de – to feel the desire for
- Avoir besoin de – to want/to be in need
- Avoir honte de – to be ashmed of
- Avoir horreur de – to hate
In the above expressions the verb ‘avoir’ is written in infinitive however in the sentence it will be conjugated based on the subject pronoun in the sentence.
Examples:
- J’ ai faim. – I am hungry.
- Elle a soif. – She is thirsty.
- Vous avez chaud. – You are feeling hot.
- Ils ont froid. – They are feeling cold.
- Tu as sommeil. – Are you sleepy?
- Nous avons peur de la nuit. – We are afraid of the dark/night.
- Elle a raison. – She is right.
- Ils ont tort. – They are wrong.
- Vous avez de la chance. – You are lucky.
- J’ai envie de manger de la glace. – I feel like eating ice cream.
- Il a trente ans. – He is thirty years old.
- Elle a de la fièvre – She has a fever.
- J’ai horreur de la pluie – I hate rain.
- Il a honte de son equipe. – He is ashamed of his team.
Où as-tu mal?
The phrase “Où as-tu mal?” translates to “Where does it hurt?” in English and is commonly used to inquire about someone’s physical discomfort or pain. The verb avoir is used in talking about these situations. Here are some expressions with the verb “avoir” to talk about how one is feeling physically.
Note the use of the contracted article au, à la, and aux before the body part which agrees with the gender and number of the body part as in:
- aux dents – aux because dents is masculine plural
- à la gorge – à la because gorge is feminine
- au dos – au because dos is masculine
- Avoir mal à la tête – to have a headache
- Example : J’ai mal à la tête, je vais prendre un médicament.
- I have a headache, I am going to take some medicine
- Avoir mal au dos – to have back pain
- Example : Il a mal au dos depuis quelques jours.
- He has a back pain since few days.
- Avoir mal à la gorge – to have a sore throat
- Example : Elle a mal à la gorge et elle préfère boire quelque chose de chaud.
- She has a sore throat and prefers to drink something hot.
- Avoir mal au ventre – to have a stomach ache
- Example : Ils ont mangé quelque chose de mauvais, maintenant ils ont mal au ventre.
- They ate something bad, now they have a stomach ache.
- Avoir mal aux yeux – to have sore eyes
- Example : Après avoir travaillé sur ordinateur toute la journée, j’ai mal aux yeux.
- After working on the computer all day, my eyes hurt.
- Avoir mal aux dents – to have a toothache
- Example : Mon frère a mal aux dents et doit aller chez le dentiste.
- My brother has a toothache and has to go to the dentist.
- Avoir mal aux oreilles – to have earache
- Example : Elle a mal aux oreilles après avoir pris un vol long-courrier.
- Her ears hurt after taking a long-haul flight.
Football – A Passionate French Tale
Football, or “le football” as it is known in French, is not just a sport in France; it’s a cultural phenomenon that unites people across the country. From the bustling streets of Paris to the charming towns in Provence, the passion for football runs deep in the veins of the French people.
The history of football in France dates back to the late 19th century when the game gained popularity across Europe. The first French football club, Le Havre Athletic Club, was founded in 1872, paving the way for the development of the sport in the country. As the years passed, football clubs sprouted in various regions, and the French national team, Les Bleus, emerged as a formidable force on the international stage.
France’s success on the global football stage is a testament to its commitment to the sport. One of the most significant achievements came in 1998 when France hosted the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup and went on to win the tournament. The iconic image of Zinedine Zidane lifting the trophy in the Stade de France remains etched in the memories of football enthusiasts worldwide. Since then, French football has consistently produced talented players who have left an indelible mark on the global football landscape. France remains a powerhouse on the footballing stage, ready to inspire the next generation of players and fans alike. Vive le football, vive la France!
Exercise to Practice “Phrases with Avoir in French”:
- Je voudrais écrire un message, J’ _____________ un stylo.
- Aneesh a commandé une sandwichs parce qu’il _________________.
- Tara _______________ une verre de l’eau, elle ___________________.
- Nous voudrions boire un chocolat chaud, nous ________________.
- Quand ils ont vu la police, Ils ______________________.
- J’ai beaucoup travaillé depuis trois mois, j’__________________ vacances.
- La nuit dernière, Je n’ai pas bien dormi, donc j’_________________.
- Il ne joue pas au foot aujourd’hui, Il ________________ aux jambes.
- Elle porte un manteau, elle _________________.
- Il est allé chez le médecin, il ________________.
- Aujourd’hui, c’est mon anniversaire, J’_______ vingts ans.
- Vous avez gagné une loterie, vous _________ vraiment ______________.
- Ils ont mangé quelque chose de mauvais, maintenant ils ____________________.
- 2+2=4, Oui, Tu _________________________.
