The most common and direct way to say “opinion” in French is, unsurprisingly, l'opinion. But why stop there when the language offers so many other nuanced and precise ways to share your point of view?

As you get more comfortable speaking French, you'll want to express yourself with more subtlety. Knowing the right word can help you distinguish between a casual thought, a firm belief, or a professional judgment.

Let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'opinion' in French to make your conversations more dynamic and authentic!

1. The standard 'opinion' – une opinion

The standard 'opinion' – une opinion

Une opinion is the most direct and common French word for 'opinion'. It's a cognate, making it easy for English speakers to recognize, but its grammatical gender is a key point to master.

Crucially, opinion is a feminine noun in French. This means it must always be used with feminine articles and adjectives. For example:

• une opinion (an opinion)
• la bonne opinion (the good opinion)
• Mon opinion est claire. (My opinion is clear.)

This word is versatile and can be used in both formal settings (like a political debate) and informal, everyday conversations. It's the perfect default word for expressing a viewpoint on any subject.

You will frequently see une opinion in set phrases. A common structure is avoir une opinion sur [quelque chose] (to have an opinion on [something]). Another is se faire une opinion (to form an opinion).

While une opinion is standard, French speakers very often use un avis (masculine) in its place. Un avis can feel slightly more like a 'take', 'view', or 'piece of advice'. For the common phrase 'In my opinion...', it is much more natural to say À mon avis than À mon opinion.

💡 * Quelle est ton opinion sur la question ? (What is your opinion on the matter?)

• J'ai une opinion bien arrêtée sur ce sujet. (I have a firm opinion on this subject.)
• L'opinion publique a beaucoup évolué. (Public opinion has evolved a lot.)
• Il est important de respecter l'opinion des autres. (It is important to respect the opinions of others.)
• Elle a changé d'opinion après notre discussion. (She changed her opinion after our discussion.)

The common 'advice' or 'opinion' – un avis

The common 'advice' or 'opinion' – un avis

One of the most versatile and common nouns you'll encounter in French is un avis. This masculine noun translates to both 'an opinion' and 'a piece of advice', making it a crucial word for expressing thoughts and seeking guidance.

When used to mean 'opinion', you'll frequently see it in the essential phrase à mon avis, which means 'in my opinion'. This is a cornerstone of conversational French for sharing your point of view.

In the context of 'advice', un avis is what you would ask for when you want someone's input or suggestion. For example, you might demander un avis (ask for advice) on a decision you need to make.

It's important to distinguish un avis from un conseil. While both can mean 'advice', un avis is often a more general opinion or suggestion, whereas un conseil implies a stronger, more direct recommendation, like advice from an expert or a close friend.

The plural, des avis, is commonly used when referring to reviews or multiple opinions, such as 'customer reviews' (les avis des clients).

💡 * À mon avis, ce film est excellent. (In my opinion, this movie is excellent.)

• Je voudrais avoir ton avis sur ma nouvelle robe. (I would like to have your opinion/advice on my new dress.)
• Il a demandé l'avis de son médecin avant de prendre une décision. (He asked for his doctor's advice before making a decision.)
• Les avis sur ce restaurant sont très positifs. (The reviews for this restaurant are very positive.)

The 'point of view' – un point de vue

A fundamental phrase for expressing opinions in French is un point de vue, which directly translates to 'a point of view'.

This term is used exactly like its English counterpart to refer to someone's perspective, opinion, or standpoint on a particular subject. It's a standard and widely understood expression suitable for both formal and informal conversations.

Remember that point de vue is a masculine noun phrase. Therefore, you will always use masculine articles and adjectives with it, such as un point de vue (a point of view) or le point de vue (the point of view). The plural form is des points de vue.

You can combine un point de vue with various verbs to form common expressions. Key verbs include:

• Avoir un point de vue: To have a point of view
• Donner son point de vue: To give one's point of view
• Partager un point de vue: To share a point of view

To introduce your own opinion using this phrase, you can say 'De mon point de vue...' or 'À mon point de vue...', both meaning 'From my point of view...'. This is a great alternative to à mon avis (in my opinion).

💡 * Quel est ton point de vue sur la question ? (What is your point of view on the matter?)

• De mon point de vue, le film était excellent. (From my point of view, the movie was excellent.)
• Il est important d'écouter les différents points de vue. (It is important to listen to the different points of view.)
• Elle a défendu son point de vue avec passion. (She defended her point of view with passion.)

The 'feeling' or 'sentiment' – un sentiment

The 'feeling' or 'sentiment' – un sentiment

Un sentiment is the French word for a 'feeling,' 'sentiment,' or 'emotion.' It generally refers to a state of mind or an emotional experience that is more lasting or complex than a fleeting emotion (une émotion).

It's important to note that un sentiment is a masculine noun in French. Therefore, it is always preceded by masculine articles like un or le.

This word is used to describe a wide range of inner states, from love and hate to jealousy and gratitude. You can specify the feeling by using the structure un sentiment de + noun, such as un sentiment de peur (a feeling of fear).

💡 * J'ai un sentiment étrange à propos de cette situation. (I have a strange feeling about this situation.)

• L'amour est le plus beau des sentiments. (Love is the most beautiful of feelings.)
• Il a un profond sentiment de gratitude envers elle. (He has a deep feeling of gratitude towards her.)
• Ce film m'a laissé avec un sentiment de tristesse. (This movie left me with a feeling of sadness.)

The 'strongly held belief' – une conviction

The French noun une conviction translates to 'a conviction' or 'a strongly held belief'.

It signifies a firm, unwavering belief or opinion that someone is fully persuaded of. This term is often used when discussing personal values, principles, politics, or ethics.

Remember, conviction is a feminine noun. Therefore, it's always used with feminine articles like une or la. For instance, 'c'est ma conviction' (it is my conviction).

You'll frequently see it paired with the verb avoir (to have), as in 'avoir la conviction que...' (to have the conviction that...). Another common phrase is 'agir par conviction' (to act out of conviction).

While an opinion can be a simple viewpoint, a conviction implies a much deeper, more personal, and morally-grounded certainty. It's a belief you would defend passionately.

💡 * Il a défendu ses idées avec conviction. (He defended his ideas with conviction.)

• C'est ma conviction la plus profonde. (It is my deepest conviction.)
• J'ai la conviction qu'il est innocent. (I am convinced that he is innocent.)
• Elle a agi par conviction, pas pour l'argent. (She acted out of conviction, not for the money.)

The 'personal belief' – une croyance

To express the idea of a 'personal belief' in French, the primary word you'll use is une croyance. This noun is fundamental for discussing opinions, faith, and personal convictions.

Une croyance is a feminine noun meaning 'a belief.' Its scope is broad, covering everything from deeply held religious or philosophical principles to simple superstitions or personal opinions.

The noun croyance is directly linked to the essential verb croire, which means 'to believe' or 'to think.' You will often use this verb to introduce your beliefs, as in Je crois que... ('I believe that...').

This word is often paired with adjectives to specify the type of belief. For instance, les croyances religieuses means 'religious beliefs,' and les croyances populaires refers to 'popular beliefs' or 'folklore.' This helps to add specific context to a conversation.

When discussing multiple convictions or a value system, the plural form les croyances is used. Mastering une croyance and croire is crucial for expressing your personal worldview in French.

💡 * C'est contre mes croyances personnelles. (That is against my personal beliefs.)

• Cette croyance est très répandue dans sa région. (This belief is widespread in his/her region.)
• Il a une forte croyance en la justice. (He has a strong belief in justice.)
• Les croyances populaires sont souvent basées sur des superstitions. (Popular beliefs are often based on superstitions.)

The 'idea' or 'thought' – une idée

The French word for an 'idea' or a 'thought' is une idée.

Une idée is a feminine noun used to express a concept, opinion, plan, or a simple thought. Its versatility makes it one of the most common nouns in the French language. Because it's feminine, you'll always use articles like une or l' (when the next word starts with a vowel, as in l'idée).

This word is central to many essential French expressions. For instance, 'avoir une idée' means 'to have an idea,' while the popular phrase 'Je n'ai aucune idée' translates to 'I have no idea.' Another common one is 'changer d'idée,' which means 'to change one's mind.'

💡 * C'est une excellente idée d'aller au cinéma ce soir. (It's an excellent idea to go to the movies tonight.)

• Soudain, il a eu une idée brillante. (Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea.)
• Je n'ai aucune idée où j'ai mis mes clés. (I have no idea where I put my keys.)
• Peux-tu me donner une idée du prix ? (Can you give me an idea of the price?)

The 'perspective' – une perspective

The 'perspective' – une perspective

As a direct cognate, une perspective translates to 'a perspective,' 'an outlook,' or 'a prospect.' Its usage is very similar to English, referring to a particular point of view or a way of considering a situation.

The word isn't limited to just a mental viewpoint. It also applies to the artistic sense of the word (e.g., drawing in perspective) and can refer to future possibilities, often used in the plural as des perspectives (prospects or outlooks).

A crucial phrase to learn is mettre les choses en perspective, which means 'to put things into perspective.' It’s used when you need to take a step back and see the bigger picture to judge a situation fairly.

💡 * Il faut changer de perspective pour résoudre ce problème. (You have to change your perspective to solve this problem.)

• Cette nouvelle opportunité offre de belles perspectives d'avenir. (This new opportunity offers good prospects for the future.)
• Prends un moment pour mettre les choses en perspective. (Take a moment to put things in perspective.)

1. The 'judgment' or 'assessment' – un jugement

The French noun un jugement is the direct equivalent of 'a judgment,' 'an assessment,' or 'a ruling.' It stems from the verb juger, meaning 'to judge.' This word is versatile, fitting into both formal legal contexts and everyday conversations about personal opinions.

In its most formal and common usage, un jugement refers to a legal ruling or verdict handed down by a court. When discussing legal matters, this is the specific term used for a judge's or court's official decision. For example, le jugement du tribunal means 'the court's judgment.'

In a broader sense, un jugement describes a personal opinion, assessment, or evaluation. It often implies a more definitive or critical assessment than the simpler term un avis (an opinion). The common expression porter un jugement sur quelqu'un means 'to pass judgment on someone,' often with a negative connotation.

While it can mean 'opinion,' un jugement carries more weight than un avis. A jugement is typically based on evaluation and analysis, whereas an avis can be more of a simple preference. For instance, you would trust a professional's jugement but ask a friend for their avis.

💡 * Le tribunal a rendu son jugement ce matin. (The court delivered its judgment this morning.)

• Ne portez pas de jugement hâtif sur les gens que vous ne connaissez pas. (Don't make a hasty judgment about people you don't know.)
• Son jugement sur le nouveau projet était très positif. (His assessment of the new project was very positive.)
• J'ai confiance en son jugement professionnel. (I trust his professional judgment.)

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

Are there other ways to say “opinion” in French?

Our list features the most essential ways to say “opinion” in French. But the language is full of nuances, with many other terms ranging from formal expressions for debates to casual phrases for everyday chats.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for “comment donner son avis en français” or “synonymes pour opinion” to find more context-specific words.

Pay close attention to the grammar and prepositions that accompany these words. For example, à mon avis and selon moi are used differently. Observing these patterns in context is key to mastering them.

As you listen to French news, watch debates, or read editorials, notice how native speakers express their points of view. This is one of the best ways to learn which term fits a particular situation.

For a deeper dive into synonyms and related expressions about giving an opinion, the WordReference forum and dictionary entry for “avis” is a fantastic resource.

I hope this article helps you express yourself more confidently in French. Let’s end with a powerful sentiment often attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire: « Je ne suis pas d'accord avec ce que vous dites, mais je me battrai jusqu'à la mort pour que vous ayez le droit de le dire. » (I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.)