This Word of the Day French lesson covers the adjective pareil (pareille in the feminine form), meaning “the same”. Our clear example sentences explain its usage.
Meaning
Pronunciation with IPA
Example sentences
Meaning
The French adjective pareil (masculine) or pareille (feminine) means “the same” or “the same thing.” Quick examples: “Les chats et les chiens ne sont pas pareils.” (Cats and dogs are not the same). Or, “C’est pareil !“, meaning “It’s the same thing!”
Pronunciation
Example sentences
This first sentence uses the expression rien à voir, which translates to “to have nothing to do with”. For the example, we used the loose translation “totally different”. C’est pas pareil omits the ne in the ne…pas negation. This is common is spoken French.
L’accent français et l’accent québécois, c’est pas pareil, hein. Rien à voir !
The French and Quebecois accents are not the same. Totally different!
This sentence uses the negation ne…jamais, meaning never. The negation ne…plus means “anymore” or “no longer”. Sera is the futur simple form of être (to be).
Après la tempête la vie ne sera plus jamais pareille dans la région.
Life in the region will never be the same after the storm.
J’ai un chat et un chien. Et toi? – Pareil.
I have one cat and one dog. And you? – Likewise.
Note that pareil also has a formal usage meaning “like that”, “such a” and “of that sort. For example, Je ne ferais jamais une pareille chose. I’d never do such a thing.
Related lessons
- French adjectives overview
- French pronunciation rules (Rule 13 covers the double-LL)
References
