Common mistakes
French sensible means sensitive: choose sensible or raisonnable
Avoid the English sensible trap. Compare a sensitive person, a sensible decision and a noticeable improvement, then choose the phrase you mean.
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In short
French sensible usually means “sensitive”. For English “sensible”, use raisonnable when you mean a reasonable decision or good judgement. In une amélioration sensible, sensible means “noticeable”.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
- sensiblesensible (showing good judgement)sensitive
Léa est sensible aux critiques.Léa is sensitive to criticism.
For “Léa is sensible”, say Léa est raisonnable.
- une personne sensiblea sensible persona sensitive person
C’est une personne sensible, qui pleure facilement au cinéma.She is a sensitive person who cries easily at the cinema.
For “a sensible person”, say une personne raisonnable or une personne sensée.
- une amélioration sensiblea sensible improvementa noticeable improvement
Il y a une amélioration sensible de son français.There is a noticeable improvement in her French.
With a change or difference, translate sensible as “noticeable” or “appreciable”.
| French | English | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| être sensible au bruit | to be sensitive to noise | A reaction to something. |
| être sensible à un argument | to be receptive to an argument | An argument has an effect. |
| une question sensible | a sensitive issue | A delicate topic. |
| une décision raisonnable | a sensible decision | Good judgement. |
| un prix raisonnable | a reasonable price | A moderate or acceptable price. |
| une différence sensible | a noticeable difference | A difference you can perceive. |
- Léa
Je suis sensible au bruit. Je préfère l’appartement sur cour.
I’m sensitive to noise. I prefer the flat overlooking the courtyard.
- Marc
Le loyer reste raisonnable pour nous.
The rent is still reasonable for us.
- Léa
Alors, le prendre me semble raisonnable.
Then taking it seems sensible to me.
- Marc
Oui, et tu peux être sensible et raisonnable à la fois !
Yes, and you can be sensitive and sensible at the same time!
Both adjectives keep the same form with masculine and feminine singular nouns: un homme sensible, une femme sensible; un choix raisonnable, une décision raisonnable. Add -s for a plural: des personnes sensibles, des décisions raisonnables. Notice the double n in raisonnable.