What does il faut in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word il faut in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use il faut in French.

The word il faut in French means have to + [infinitive], properly, correctly, respectable, decent, straight and proper people, Stop treating everyone like an idiot, Stop looking down on everyone, Strike while the iron is hot, you really should + [infinitive], you really need to + [infinitive], it needs doing, it needs to be done, there has to be a first time, there has to be a first time for everything, it appears, it seems, it appears, it seems, It takes all sorts to make a world, it must be said, it should be said, it has to be said, it takes time, be necessary to go that far, have to go that far, you must take advantage of it, you have to make do, That takes some doing!, you have to see it to believe it, it has to be seen to be believed, you have to really want it, you have to really want to, you shouldn't, you mustn't, you can't, don't go thinking, don't go assuming, that's pushing it, talk about pushing it, don't push me, you shouldn't count on it too much, you shouldn't get your hopes up too much, I have to go, Do I need to draw you a picture?, kids will be kids, let's keep our heads, let's be sensible, think before you act, it needs to be put into perspective, let's put it into perspective, you have to know, you have to know that, It's the quiet ones you have to watch, one must recognise that, one must acknowledge that, You need to get out more!, no pain, no gain, you need to pull your finger out!, it's time to go, Once you've put your hand to the plough, there's no turning back, Slow and steady wins the race. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word il faut

have to + [infinitive]

verbe intransitif (il est nécessaire de)

(auxiliary verb: Helping verb--for example, "She is running." "It has been lost.")
Il faut repartir avant 19 heures.
We have to leave before 7 pm.

properly, correctly

locution adverbiale (convenablement)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Pour une fois, mon fils a mis la table comme il faut.
For once, my son laid the table as he should.

respectable, decent

locution adjectivale (personne : correct, bien élevé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est un jeune homme comme il faut.
He is a respectable young man.

straight and proper people

nom masculin pluriel (gens bien élevés, distingués)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Stop treating everyone like an idiot, Stop looking down on everyone

(familier (il ne faut pas sous-estimer les gens)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Strike while the iron is hot

(figuré (c'est le bon moment pour agir) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

you really should + [infinitive], you really need to + [infinitive]

(c'est nécessaire)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it needs doing, it needs to be done

(c'est nécessaire)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Personne n'aime sortir les poubelles mais il faut bien le faire.

there has to be a first time, there has to be a first time for everything

(il faut un début)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Notre fils est rentré ivre hier soir. Que veux-tu, il faut bien une première fois !

it appears, it seems

(il semble, a priori)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it appears, it seems

(sans doute que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

It takes all sorts to make a world

(il faut accepter la différence)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it must be said, it should be said, it has to be said

(on doit reconnaître que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it takes time

(ce n'est pas immédiat)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

be necessary to go that far, have to go that far

(c'est une étape nécessaire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
J'ai un contentieux avec mon ancien propriétaire qui me réclame de l'argent. Je n'ai pas envie d'aller au procès, mais s'il faut en passer par là, je le ferai.
I'm involved in a dispute with my old landlord who wants money off me. I don't want to go to court, but, if it comes to that, I will.

you must take advantage of it

(c'est le bon moment pour [qch])

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

you have to make do

(péjoratif (on aura pas mieux)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

That takes some doing!

(c'est impressionnant)

you have to see it to believe it, it has to be seen to be believed

(c'est difficilement croyable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

you have to really want it, you have to really want to

(il faut être très motivé)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

you shouldn't, you mustn't, you can't

(familier (expression d'une opposition) (informal)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

don't go thinking, don't go assuming

(familier (contrairement à ce que l'on pense)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

that's pushing it, talk about pushing it

(il faut rester raisonnable) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Attends. La mère de Jason veut que je conduise son fils au tournoi de foot, que je le fasse manger, et que je le ramène chez lui, après un détour de 50 km ! Faut pas exagérer non plus !

don't push me

(ne m'énervez pas !) (figurative, informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je suis à cran en ce moment, il ne faut pas me chercher !

you shouldn't count on it too much, you shouldn't get your hopes up too much

(sûrement pas !)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

I have to go

(je dois partir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Do I need to draw you a picture?

(familier, ironique (Dois-je vraiment t'expliquer ?) (ironic)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Comment on attrape une MST ? Il faut que je te fasse un dessin ?

kids will be kids

(le temps assagira les jeunes)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

let's keep our heads, let's be sensible

(il convient d'être raisonnable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

think before you act

(Il ne faut pas se précipiter)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it needs to be put into perspective, let's put it into perspective

(expression de dédramatisation)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

you have to know, you have to know that

(cette information est utile)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

It's the quiet ones you have to watch

(attention à ce qui paraît calme)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

one must recognise that, one must acknowledge that

(il faut bien l'admettre)

You need to get out more!

(familier (tu es dépassé) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

no pain, no gain

(la beauté exige des sacrifices)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

you need to pull your finger out!

(vulgaire (il faut être plus énergique) (figurative, slang)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it's time to go

(il est l'heure de faire [qch])

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Once you've put your hand to the plough, there's no turning back

(Il est trop tard pour changer d'avis) (UK, figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Slow and steady wins the race

(la précipitation est inappropriée)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of il faut in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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