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Phrasebook

Effort or peine: French phrases for trying, struggling and caring

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Say you are making an effort, finding something difficult or feeling sad. Practise faire un effort, avoir de la peine à and ça vaut la peine in short exchanges.

In short

Use faire un effort for making an effort, avoir de la peine à for finding something difficult, and faire de la peine à quelqu’un for upsetting someone. Ça vaut la peine means it is worth it. Learn the whole phrase: peine changes meaning with the words around it.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two friends patiently practising a presentation together.
A friend helps when j’ai de la peine à prononcer ce mot. Illustration: Atelier
Two nouns, several useful patterns
FrenchEnglishWhat it focuses on
un effort / des effortsan effort / effortstrying or exertion
avoir de la peine à + infinitiveto have difficulty doing somethingthe difficulty
faire de la peine à quelqu’unto upset someonethe sadness caused
valoir la peine de + infinitiveto be worth doingwhether the action is worthwhile
se donner de la peineto take trouble; to make an effortthe care put into something
1

Say what you are trying to do

Pour introduces the aim. The effort can be small or large.

YouJe fais un effort pour expliquer mon idée plus clairement.I’m making an effort to explain my idea more clearly.
A friendOui, je comprends mieux ce que tu proposes.Yes, I understand what you are suggesting better.
2

Name the difficulty

Avoir du mal à is another common way to express the same difficulty.

YouJ’ai de la peine à prononcer ce mot.I find this word difficult to pronounce.
A friendOn peut le répéter ensemble, si tu veux.We can repeat it together if you like.
3

Say that something makes you sad

Here peine concerns feelings. The person affected is me: it makes me sad.

YouTon départ me fait de la peine.I’m sad that you’re leaving.
A friendTu vas me manquer aussi. On s’appellera souvent.I’ll miss you too. We’ll call each other often.
4

Ask whether it is worth another try

Use de before an infinitive after ça vaut la peine.

YouÇa vaut la peine de recommencer ?Is it worth starting again?
A friendOui, on a déjà fait des progrès. La prochaine version sera plus claire.Yes, we’ve already made progress. The next version will be clearer.
5

Thank someone for the trouble they took

This phrase recognises the care someone put into helping you.

YouMerci de t’être donné tant de peine pour m’aider.Thank you for going to so much trouble to help me.
A friendAvec plaisir. Je voulais t’aider à préparer ta présentation.My pleasure. I wanted to help you prepare your presentation.
6

Say that something is unnecessary

Ce n’est pas la peine de… means there is no need to do it.

A friendCe n’est pas la peine de tout refaire. L’introduction est très claire.There’s no need to redo everything. The introduction is very clear.
YouD’accord, je corrige seulement la conclusion.OK, I’ll just correct the conclusion.

What else does peine mean in French?

Il a à peine commencé.

He has barely started.

À peine means barely or hardly here. It is a separate expression.

Le roman raconte la vie d’un homme après une peine de prison.

The novel tells the story of a man’s life after a prison sentence.

In une peine de prison, peine means a sentence or punishment.

Question 1No account needed
Say “It is worth rereading the conclusion.”

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Ça vaut la peine de relire la conclusion.. Ça vaut la peine de presents rereading as worthwhile; the other phrases describe difficulty or say it is unnecessary.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence says the news makes you sad?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Cette nouvelle me fait de la peine.. Me fait de la peine means it upsets me. À peine lu means barely read.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the phrase meaning “I find it difficult to explain my idea.”J’ai de la peine ___ expliquer mon idée.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

à. The difficulty pattern is avoir de la peine à followed by an infinitive.

Question 4No account needed
A friend says this. What do they mean?Ce n’est pas la peine de tout refaire.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

There is no need to redo everything.. Ce n’est pas la peine de says that the action is unnecessary.

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