Talking About Likes and Dislikes in French: "J’aime" and "Je n’aime pas"

When you're learning French, being able to share what you like and don’t like is really important. The phrases "j’aime" (I like) and "je n’aime pas" (I do not like) come up a lot in conversations. Let’s see how to use them easily!

1. Saying "J’aime"

• How to Use It:

  • You can say J’aime + [thing you like].

• Examples:

  • J’aime le chocolat. (I like chocolate.)
  • J’aime danser. (I like to dance.)

Whenever you want to tell someone about something you enjoy, start with "J’aime" and then add what you like.

2. Saying "Je n’aime pas"

• How to Use It:

  • You can say Je n’aime pas + [thing you don’t like].

• Examples:

  • Je n’aime pas les tomates. (I do not like tomatoes.)
  • Je n’aime pas sortir. (I do not like to go out.)

To say what you don’t like, use "Je n’aime pas" followed by what you dislike.

3. Words for Likes and Dislikes

Here are some useful words that can help you talk about your preferences:

• Foods: le fromage (cheese), le pain (bread), les frites (fries)
• Activities: nager (to swim), lire (to read), jouer au foot (to play soccer)

4. Practicing Conversations

Try having simple talks to practice what you’ve learned!

Example Dialogue:

• A: J’aime le fromage. (I like cheese.)
• B: Je n’aime pas le fromage. (I do not like cheese.)

You can also ask your friends what they like:

• Q: Qu'est-ce que tu aimes? (What do you like?)
• A: J’aime le chocolat! (I like chocolate!)

5. Being Polite

When you’re asking someone about their likes or sharing your own, it’s nice to be polite! Here are some phrases:

• S’il vous plaît (Please)
• Merci (Thank you)

Practicing these phrases will help you talk about your likes and dislikes confidently in French!