What does sérieux in French mean?

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

The word sérieux in French means conscientious, careful, thorough, responsible, sensible, serious, serious, serious, Seriously?, solemnity, seriousness, pint, it doesn't look good, it doesn't look great, you can't be serious, it's just a joke, it does not look very professional, it is not very professional-looking, assurance of reliability, keep a straight face, unreliability, serious inquiries only, take seriously, take seriously, take yourself seriously, take yourself too seriously. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word sérieux

conscientious

adjectif (travailleur, consciencieux)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Mon fils est un élève sérieux et il a de bonnes notes.
My son is a hardworking student and gets good grades.

careful, thorough

adjectif (qui montre le soin)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
L'ouvrier a fait un travail sérieux.
The workman did a careful (or: thorough) job.

responsible, sensible

adjectif (sage)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Je ne veux que des locataires sérieux : pas question de faire des fêtes chez moi !
I only want responsible (or: sensible) tenants: there'll be no partying in my house!

serious

adjectif (grave)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Qu'est-ce qui se passe ? Pourquoi cet air sérieux ?
What's up? Why so serious?

serious

adjectif (livre, film,... : intellectuel)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Le soir, je ne veux pas regarder de films sérieux, que des comédies légères.
I don't want to watch heavy films of an evening, just light comedies.

serious

adjectif (important)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est une candidate sérieuse. Mon fils a de sérieuses chances d'avoir son bac avec mention s'il continue à travailler assidûment.
She is a serious candidate. My son has a serious chance of passing his baccalaureate with merit if he carries on working hard.

Seriously?

interjection (montre le doute)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Tu as serré la main à Barack Obama ? Sérieux ?!
You shook Barack Obama's hand? Seriously?

solemnity, seriousness

nom masculin (gravité)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il ne se départ jamais de son sérieux.
He never loses his solemnity (or: seriousness).

pint

nom masculin (familier (bar : demi-litre de boisson) (equivalent)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
J'avais soif, j'ai bu un sérieux de diabolo menthe.
I was thirsty; I drank half a liter of peppermint soda.

it doesn't look good, it doesn't look great

(c'est contraire aux convenances)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Un ministre avec un polo : ça (ne) fait pas très sérieux !

you can't be serious

(c'est déraisonnable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Arrêter tes études pour devenir clown ? Ce n'est pas sérieux.

it's just a joke

(c'est pour rire)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Non, ce n'est pas vrai, ce n'est pas sérieux.

it does not look very professional, it is not very professional-looking

(ça tient de l'amateurisme)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Utiliser des bouchons à vis, ça ne fait pas très sérieux pour une bouteille de vin. Aller à un entretien d'embauche en baskets, ça ne fait pas très sérieux.

assurance of reliability

nom masculin (digne de confiance)

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

keep a straight face

locution verbale (ne pas rire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

unreliability

nom masculin (déficit de rigueur)

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

serious inquiries only

(seulement pour ceux intéressés) (mainly US)

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

take seriously

verbe transitif (ne pas négliger)

La police prend cette affaire au sérieux.

take seriously

verbe transitif (prêter attention à [qqn])

Tu connais mon frère, il plaisante toujours, il ne faut pas le prendre au sérieux.

take yourself seriously, take yourself too seriously

(péjoratif (être trop imbu de soi)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette comédienne se prend au sérieux.

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So now that you know more about the meaning of sérieux 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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