The word "like" in English is incredibly versatile, isn't it? We use it for everything from expressing preferences to making comparisons. But when you're trying to say "like" in the sense of comparison in French, you might find yourself reaching for the same old words. While some options are more common, French, much like English, offers a rich tapestry of expressions to convey similarity and comparison.

Learning these different nuances will not only make your French sound more natural and sophisticated but also allow you to express yourself with greater precision. No more feeling limited to just one or two phrases!

Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "like" (for comparison) in French, helping you expand your vocabulary and speak more like a native!

The most common 'like' or 'as' – comme

The most common “like” or “as” – comme

Comme is arguably the most versatile and frequently used word for “like” or “as” in French.

Its primary function is to draw comparisons, meaning “like” or “as”. This is its most straightforward and common application, comparing two things or actions.

Comme can also indicate the manner in which something is done, translating to “how” or “as”. It describes how an action unfolds or is performed.

When defining a role or function, comme means “as a” or “in the capacity of”. It specifies what someone or something is or serves as.

Less commonly, comme can introduce a cause or reason, similar to “as” or “since” in English. When used this way, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence.

Comme primarily functions as a conjunction, connecting clauses and providing various relationships between them, but it can also act as an adverb.

Due to its multiple meanings, understanding comme relies heavily on context. Pay attention to the surrounding words and the overall sentence structure to grasp its precise meaning. Often, its position in the sentence can be a clue.

💡 * Elle chante comme un ange. (She sings like an angel.)

• Fais comme chez toi. (Make yourself at home. / Do as if you were at home.)
• Comme il pleuvait, nous sommes restés à l'intérieur. (As it was raining, we stayed inside.)
• Il travaille comme professeur. (He works as a teacher.)
• C'est comme ça. (It's like that. / That's how it is.)

The 'similar to' or 'like' – similaire à

The 'similar to' or 'like' – similaire à

When you want to express that something is 'similar to' or 'like' something else in French, the most direct and common phrase to use is similaire à.

Similaire is an adjective, meaning 'similar'. It is almost always followed by the preposition à (to), which contracts with articles (e.g., au, aux) to form 'similar to'.

This phrase is ideal for highlighting a resemblance or likeness between two or more things, ideas, or qualities. It emphasizes shared characteristics rather than exact identity.

As an adjective, similaire agrees in number with the noun it modifies. However, it is invariable in gender, meaning it doesn't change for masculine or feminine nouns. It becomes similaires in the plural.

While comme can also mean 'like' (as in 'as'), similaire à specifically conveys a degree of resemblance. Comme can introduce an example or state an identity, whereas similaire à focuses purely on similarity.

You'll find similaire à used in various contexts, from describing physical appearances to comparing concepts, making it a versatile and precise expression in French.

💡 * Son style est similaire au tien. (His style is similar to yours.)

• Ces deux couleurs sont très similaires. (These two colors are very similar.)
• Le nouveau logiciel est similaire à l'ancien. (The new software is similar to the old one.)
• Le goût de ce fruit est similaire à celui d'une pomme. (The taste of this fruit is similar to that of an apple.)
• Leurs idées sont similaires aux nôtres. (Their ideas are similar to ours.)

The 'such as' or 'like' (for examples) – tel que/tels que

When you want to introduce examples or comparisons in French, a very useful phrase to know is tel que (or its variations).

The phrase tel que translates to 'such as,' 'like,' or 'as' in English, primarily serving to list specific instances that illustrate a preceding general statement.

Crucially, tel que must agree in gender and number with the noun it refers to. This means you'll see four forms: tel que (masculine singular), telle que (feminine singular), tels que (masculine plural), and telles que (feminine plural).

Its main function is to provide concrete examples that clarify or expand upon a broader category. For instance, if you mention 'fruits,' you might follow up with examples 'such as apples, bananas, and oranges.'

You'll typically find tel que placed directly after the noun or phrase it's specifying. It acts as a bridge, connecting a general idea to its particular manifestations or illustrations.

While comme can also mean 'like' and introduce examples, tel que often implies a more formal or exhaustive list of examples, or a more precise comparison. Think of it as a slightly more structured way to say 'for example.'

In essence, tel que is your go-to phrase when you need to introduce specific items, persons, or ideas that serve as illustrations for a general concept, ensuring proper grammatical agreement.

💡 * J'aime les fruits tropicaux tels que les mangues et les ananas. (I like tropical fruits such as mangoes and pineapples.)

• Elle a des qualités telles que la gentillesse et la patience. (She has qualities such as kindness and patience.)
• Il préfère les sports individuels, tel que le tennis. (He prefers individual sports, such as tennis.)
• Nous avons visité plusieurs villes côtières, telles que Nice et Cannes. (We visited several coastal cities, such as Nice and Cannes.)
• Des artistes tels que Picasso ont marqué leur époque. (Artists such as Picasso marked their era.)

The 'as if' or 'like' (hypothetical) – comme si

The phrase comme si translates to "as if" or "as though" in English. It is used to introduce a hypothetical or unreal situation, expressing a comparison that is contrary to fact or imagined.

Crucially, comme si is always followed by a verb in the imperfect indicative or pluperfect indicative tense. This rule applies regardless of the tense used in the main clause of the sentence.

This specific grammatical construction with the imperfect or pluperfect indicative after comme si highlights the hypothetical or contrary-to-fact nature of the situation being described, suggesting something that is imagined or not true.

A common mistake for learners is to use the conditional or subjunctive after comme si. Remember, only the imperfect or pluperfect indicative is grammatically correct for expressing these 'as if' scenarios.

💡 * Il parle comme s'il savait tout. (He speaks as if he knew everything.)

• Elle m'a regardé comme si j'étais folle. (She looked at me as if I were crazy.)
• Ils couraient comme s'ils avaient vu un fantôme. (They were running as if they had seen a ghost.)
• Tu agis comme si rien ne s'était passé. (You act as if nothing had happened.)
• Il mange comme s'il n'avait pas mangé depuis des jours. (He eats as if he hadn't eaten for days.)

The 'to resemble' or 'to look like' – ressembler à

The verb ressembler à in French means 'to resemble' or 'to look like'.

It is used to express that someone or something shares similarities with another person or thing. The key element to remember is the mandatory preposition à after ressembler.

Ressembler is a regular -ER verb, meaning its conjugations follow the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er (e.g., je ressemble, tu ressembles, il/elle/on ressemble, nous ressemblons, vous ressemblez, ils/elles ressemblent).

This verb is versatile and can describe physical appearance, personality traits, or even abstract similarities. You'll use it whenever you want to say something 'looks like' or 'is similar to' something else.

Crucially, the à preposition does not translate literally to 'to' in English in this context. Instead, it's an integral part of the French expression, meaning 'to resemble something/someone'.

Always remember the structure: ressembler + à + noun/pronoun. This structure is fixed and essential for correct usage.

💡 * Elle ressemble à sa mère. (She looks like her mother.)

• Tu ressembles à un acteur célèbre. (You resemble a famous actor.)
• Ce tableau ressemble à une œuvre de Van Gogh. (This painting looks like a work by Van Gogh.)
• Les deux frères se ressemblent beaucoup. (The two brothers resemble each other a lot.)
• Mon idée ne ressemble à rien de ce que j'ai vu. (My idea doesn't resemble anything I've seen.)

The 'in the manner of' or 'like' – à la manière de

The French expression à la manière de directly translates to "in the manner of" or "in the style of". It's used to indicate that something is done or created in a way characteristic of a particular person, group, or style.

This phrase is perfect for describing an action or an artwork that imitates or is inspired by a specific model. Think of it as saying "like" or "in the style of" when referring to a distinctive approach. For example, a painting à la manière de Van Gogh means "a painting in the style of Van Gogh".

While à la manière de is the full form, you might also encounter à la façon de, which carries a very similar meaning. In some specific contexts, especially with culinary terms, you'll simply see à la followed by a name, like poulet à la provençale (chicken Provençal style), implying "in the manner of Provence".

The structure is straightforward: à la manière de is followed by a noun or a pronoun. It acts as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or another noun to describe how something is done or its origin of style.

💡 *Il a décoré sa maison à la manière des artistes du 19e siècle. (He decorated his house in the manner of 19th-century artists.)
*Elle chante à la manière d'Édith Piaf. (She sings like Édith Piaf.)
*C'est une nouvelle recette de gâteau à la manière de ma grand-mère. (It's a new cake recipe in the style of my grandmother.)
*J'ai écrit une histoire à la manière d'un conte de fées. (I wrote a story in the manner of a fairy tale.)

The 'as... as' or 'like' (for degree comparison) – aussi... que

To express the idea of 'as... as' or 'like' in French when comparing the degree of two things, you'll use the construction aussi... que.

This phrase literally translates to 'as... as' and is used with adjectives or adverbs to show equality in quality or manner. The adjective or adverb goes in between aussi and que.

It's essential for making comparisons of equality. For instance, 'as tall as', 'as quickly as', or 'as beautiful as' would all use aussi... que to indicate that two things possess a quality to the same extent.

💡 * Elle est aussi grande que son frère. (She is as tall as her brother.)

• Il court aussi vite que moi. (He runs as fast as me.)
• Ce livre est aussi intéressant que le précédent. (This book is as interesting as the previous one.)
• Elle chante aussi bien que sa mère. (She sings as well as her mother.)

The 'just like' or 'exactly like' – tout comme

The phrase tout comme in French translates to "just like" or "exactly like" in English. It is used to express a strong resemblance or a precise comparison between two elements, actions, or situations.

You'll use tout comme when you want to emphasize that something is exactly or precisely similar to something else. It adds a layer of intensity to the comparison that a simple comme might not convey.

Tout comme can introduce a noun phrase or a complete clause, making it versatile for various sentence structures. It often functions as a conjunction or a comparative phrase.

Think of tout comme as a way to say "no different from" or "in the very same way as." It's perfect for highlighting a striking parallel or an identical outcome.

💡 * Il chante tout comme son père. (He sings just like his father.)

• Elle a réagi tout comme je l'avais imaginé. (She reacted exactly as I had imagined.)
• Tout comme l'année dernière, le festival a été un succès. (Just like last year, the festival was a success.)
• C'est tout comme si rien ne s'était passé. (It's just as if nothing had happened.)

The 'alike' or 'similar to' (adjective) – semblable à

When you want to express that something is 'similar to' or 'alike' in French, the most common and versatile adjective you'll use is semblable à.

Semblable functions as an adjective, and it is always followed by the essential preposition à (or its contracted forms like au, à la, aux) to specify what something is similar to. This structure is crucial for correct usage.

As an adjective, semblable must agree in number with the noun it modifies. Since it already ends in '-e' in its singular form, it remains the same for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. For the plural, you simply add an 's': semblable (singular) and semblables (plural).

Semblable à is a widely accepted and neutral term, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It often emphasizes a significant or inherent likeness, rather than just a superficial resemblance, making it a strong choice for various comparisons.

💡 *Son histoire est semblable à la mienne. (His story is similar to mine.)
*Ces deux tableaux sont très semblables. (These two paintings are very similar.)
*Elle a un caractère semblable à celui de son père. (She has a character similar to her father's.)
*Leurs opinions sont semblables. (Their opinions are similar.)
*Ce modèle est semblable au précédent. (This model is similar to the previous one.)

Are there other ways to say 'like' in French?

Are there other ways to say 'like' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to express 'like' in French, covering various contexts from preferences to comparisons. But the French language is incredibly rich, with many other expressions, including regionalisms, slang, and more formal or informal alternatives that even this author might not be aware of!

You can also do an online search for 'comment exprimer aimer en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region, or 'synonymes de aimer' to find more nuanced expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms or alternative phrases for 'like' on these lists. Of course, make sure to check a word's precise definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about your preferences and comparisons in various situations.

And if you’re looking for a deeper dive into the verb aimer and its many nuances, or related expressions for 'like' and 'to like' in French, the WordReference entry for aimer is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in exploring the various ways to say 'like' in French. The ability to express nuanced preferences truly enriches communication. As the French saying goes, 'C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.' (It's by forging that one becomes a blacksmith, i.e., practice makes perfect) – keep practicing these expressions, and they'll become second nature!