Level A2-B1 (Upper Beginner/Lower Intermediate)
The French Word of the Day is s’intéresser à, meaning “to be interested in.” Learn how to use this common reflexive verb in everyday French with clear examples.
Explanation
S’intéresser à means “to be interested in” something or someone. It is a reflexive verb, so you must use it with reflexive pronouns. Unlike English, you cannot say Je suis intéressé(e) à to express interest in something. Instead, use Je m’intéresse à.
- Je m’intéresse à l’art. (I’m interested in art.)
- Elle s’intéresse à la musique. (She is interested in music.)
The verb intéresser, meaning “to interest” does exist in French. For example, Ce livre intéresse beaucoup de gens (This book interests many people.)
Pronunciation
S’intéresser à /s‿ɛ̃.te.ʁɛ.se‿a/
Example sentences
This first example sentence uses depuis, meaning both for and since.
Je m’intéresse à l’histoire française depuis trois ans.
I’ve been interested in French history for three years.
This second example uses the indirect object pronoun y, meaning both it and there. Y is required for verbs followed by the preposition à.
Tu t’intéresse à l’étymologie. Tu t’y interesses.
You are interested in etymology. You are interested in it.
This example uses s’intéresser in the passé composé, which requires the usage of être as the auxiliary verb.
Je ne m’y suis pas intéressé. C’est très ennuyeux.
I wasn’t interested. It‘s very boring.
In French, ça ne m’intéresse pas can translate to “that doesn’t interest me” or “I’m not interested in it”. The word ça (that) is referring back to a previously mentioned topic (going to the beach in our example sentence).
Tu veux aller à la plage ? – Non, ça ne m’intéresse pas.
Do you want to go to the beach? No, I’m not interested.
For this example, un prix intéressant means a good or low price. Va is the verb aller (to go) in the imperative mood. Là means “there” and is also used as a filler word in conversation.
Va au marché de puces. Là, tu peux trouver des prix intéressants.
Go to the flea market. You can find very good prices there.
Related words and lessons
- s’occuper de – to take care of, to be involved in
- faire attention à – to pay attention to
- aimer – to like, to love
- adorer – to adore
- se passionner pour – to be passionate about
