AtelierLe journal · French, understood
English

Language

The course

Updated

Phrasebook

Chuchoter or crier: what to say about a quiet or loud voice

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Use chuchoter, crier and parler à voix basse in short exchanges, and learn how shouting to someone differs from shouting at them.

In short

Chuchoter means to whisper; crier means to shout or cry out. Say parler à voix basse for speaking quietly and pleurer for crying tears. Someone can shout with joy or to be heard across a crowd.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two audience members whisper before a theatre performance.
At the theatre, chuchoter keeps a conversation quiet. Illustration: Atelier
1

Beside a sleeping child

A whisper keeps the exchange quiet.

The other personPourquoi tu chuchotes ?Why are you whispering?
YouLe petit dort. Parle à voix basse, s’il te plaît.The little one is asleep. Speak quietly, please.
The other personD’accord. Je vais fermer la porte doucement.OK. I’ll close the door quietly.
2

Calling across a crowd

The speaker raises their voice to reach someone.

YouJ’ai crié ton prénom, mais tu ne m’as pas entendu.I shouted your first name, but you didn’t hear me.
The other personIl y avait trop de bruit. Qu’est-ce que tu voulais me dire ?There was too much noise. What did you want to tell me?
YouJe voulais te dire de m’attendre.I wanted to tell you to wait for me.
3

During an argument

Crier sur quelqu’un means shouting at someone.

YouNe crie pas sur moi, s’il te plaît.Please don’t shout at me.
The other personPardon. On peut en parler calmement.Sorry. We can talk about it calmly.
4

After a goal

De joie tells you the feeling behind the shout.

The other personPourquoi est-ce qu’ils crient ?Why are they shouting?
YouIls crient de joie : leur équipe a gagné !They’re shouting with joy: their team has won!

How do you say who you whisper or shout to in French?

What is said? Who hears it?
FrenchEnglish
Elle chuchote une réponse.She whispers an answer.
Elle chuchote à son voisin.She whispers to the person beside her.
Elle lui chuchote une réponse.She whispers an answer to him.
Elle crie à son frère de l’attendre.She shouts to her brother to wait for her.
Elle crie sur son frère.She shouts at her brother.

Parler à voix basse describes a low voice; chuchoter specifies a whisper. For ordinary loud speech, parler fort is useful too: Tu parles trop fort means “You’re speaking too loudly.” Choose the phrase that matches what you hear.

Three useful present forms
Subjectchuchotercrierpleurer
jechuchotecriepleure
nouschuchotonscrionspleurons
vouschuchotezcriezpleurez
Question 1No account needed
Translate “He is crying”: tears are running down his face.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Il pleure.. For crying tears, use pleurer. Crier describes a shout or cry out.

Question 2No account needed
Which phrase means “She shouts at her colleague”?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Elle crie sur sa collègue.. Crier sur quelqu’un is the pattern for shouting at someone.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the present form of crier.Nous ___ pour être entendus.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

crions. With nous, crier gives crions: remove -er and add -ons.

Keep going