Scale
How much do you like it? French from je déteste to j'adore
A visual scale of French likes and dislikes, from je déteste to j'adore, with the in-between phrases French speakers actually use. Then place your own tastes.
- A1
- 8 steps
- I hate it → I love it
- Learn this in the A1 notebook →
In short
From strongest dislike to strongest like: je déteste, je n'aime pas du tout, je n'aime pas trop, bof, j'aime bien, j'aime beaucoup, j'adore. J'aime bien (I like) is actually weaker than j'aime used about things.
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I love it
- J'adore !I love it!Adorer is for things, not usually people.
- J'aime beaucoup.I like it a lot.
- J'aime bien.I like it.The everyday friendly yes.
- Ça va.It's OK.
- Bof…Meh.A shrug in one syllable.
- Je n'aime pas trop.I'm not keen.Polite way to say no.
- Je n'aime pas du tout.I don't like it at all.
- Je déteste.I hate it.Strong: je déteste le céleri.
I hate it
Now place your own tastes
- Hôte
Tu aimes le fromage de chèvre ?
Do you like goat's cheese?
- Toi
Bof… je n'aime pas trop. Mais j'adore le comté !
Meh… I'm not keen. But I love comté!
- Hôte
Et les huîtres ?
And oysters?
- Toi
Je déteste, désolé !
I hate them, sorry!
Bof deserves a special mention: it's a tiny, very French word that means "not really, I'm not impressed", usually with a shrug. Ça va on its own means "it's OK, nothing special". Both sit in the middle of the scale.
With people, the scale shifts: je t'aime is "I love you", while je t'aime bien is just "I like you". Adorer about a person (j'adore ma grand-mère) is affectionate, not romantic.
- Je suis aimer le chocolat.J'aime le chocolat.
Aimer is a verb on its own, no être.
- J'aime bien beaucoup.J'aime beaucoup.
Choose one: bien or beaucoup.