Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
Want to express laughter, joking, or kidding around in French? The versatile verb rigoler is your perfect choice! Often used informally as a synonym for “rire” (to laugh), this lesson will help you master its various fun meanings and uses. You’ll learn its:
Meaning
Pronunciation in IPA
Example sentences
Present tense conjugation
Meaning
The French verb rigoler means “to laugh,” “to have a laugh,” “to joke,” or “to kid around.” It’s an informal and commonly used verb to express amusement or lighthearted teasing. It can often be used interchangeably with “rire” (to laugh), but “rigoler” also strongly implies the act of joking.
Pronunciation
Example sentences
This first sentence uses the pronoun on, which has many meanings including “we”. This sentence is in the passé composé, a commonly used French past tense.
On a bien rigolé à la fête la semaine dernière.
We had a good laugh at the party last week.
For this sentence, “Tu rigoles ?” omits est-ce que, which is used for yes-know questions. This is common in spoken French. Soit (be!) is the imperative mood form of être (to be).
Tu rigoles ? Allez, sois serieux pour une fois dans la vie!
Are you kidding? Come on! Be serious for once in your life!
In this final sentence, “T’inquiète pas !” (don’t worry!) omits the ne in the ne…pas negation. Again, this is common in spoken French.
T’inquiète pas ! Je rigole. Tu trouves mes blagues grossières ?
Don’t worry! I’m joking! Do you find my jokes rude?
Present tense conjugation
Rigoler is a regular ER verb. This means that it’s conjugation pattern is the same as parler (to speak) in the present tense.
Je rigole I joke around
Tu rigoles You joke around (singular, informal)
Il, elle rigole He, she jokes around
Nous rigolons We joke around
Vous rigolez You joke around (plural, formal)
Ils, elles rigolent They joke around
Related lessons
- Regular verbs
- Rire – to laugh (conjugation chart)
References
