Croire is undoubtedly the most common way to say "to believe" in French. But just like in English, expressing belief isn't always a one-size-fits-all situation. Whether you're believing a friend's story, trusting in a plan, or holding a deep conviction, French offers a rich vocabulary to articulate these nuances. Learning these different expressions will not only expand your vocabulary but also allow you to communicate with greater precision and fluency. Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "to believe" in French and master them!

The standard 'to believe' – croire

The standard “to believe” – croire

The verb croire is the most common and fundamental word for “to believe” in French.

Croire is an irregular verb, so its conjugations don't follow a standard pattern. Here are some present tense examples:

• je crois (I believe)
• tu crois (you believe)
• il/elle/on croit (he/she/one believes)
• nous croyons (we believe)
• vous croyez (you believe)
• ils/elles croient (they believe)

When you want to express believing a person or a piece of information, you use croire directly with an object pronoun or a noun. It means “to believe someone/something” or “to trust someone/something.”

To express believing in someone or something in the sense of having faith or trust (e.g., in God, in yourself, in a person's potential), you use the construction croire en + noun.

For believing in abstract concepts, stories, or specific outcomes (e.g., in ghosts, in luck, in miracles), the construction croire à + noun is typically used. This often implies a belief in the existence or possibility of something.

When expressing an opinion or belief that something is true, you use croire que followed by a clause. This is very common for stating what you think or suppose.

This is a key point for croire que: when used in a positive statement (Je crois que...), it's followed by the indicative mood. However, in negative or interrogative statements (Je ne crois pas que..., Crois-tu que...?), it often triggers the subjunctive mood, as it expresses doubt or uncertainty.

You'll also hear croire in common idiomatic expressions, such as Je n'en crois pas mes yeux! (I can't believe my eyes!) or faire croire à quelqu'un que... (to make someone believe that...). These add a layer of authenticity to your French.

💡 Je crois en toi. (I believe in you.)

Tu crois aux fantômes ? (Do you believe in ghosts?)

Nous croyons qu'il est innocent. (We believe he is innocent.)

Elle ne me croit pas. (She doesn't believe me.)

Croyez-vous que ce soit vrai ? (Do you believe that it is true?)

To have 'faith' or 'belief' – avoir foi

When expressing 'to have faith' or 'to believe' in a profound, often spiritual or deep trust sense, French speakers commonly use the phrase avoir foi.

Foi is a feminine noun meaning 'faith' or 'belief.' When paired with the verb avoir (to have), it forms the idiomatic expression avoir foi, signifying a strong conviction or trust.

Most frequently, avoir foi appears in religious or spiritual contexts, like 'to have faith in God' (avoir foi en Dieu) or 'to have faith in humanity' (avoir foi en l'humanité). It implies a deep, unwavering conviction.

Beyond the spiritual, avoir foi can also convey strong trust or confidence in something or someone.

For example, avoir foi en l'avenir means 'to have faith in the future,' expressing optimism and belief in positive outcomes.

While croire also means 'to believe,' avoir foi carries a stronger, more profound sense of conviction and commitment. Croire can be used for simple beliefs or opinions (Je crois qu'il va pleuvoir - I believe it will rain), whereas avoir foi implies a deeper, often emotional or moral adherence.

It's important to note that avoir foi is almost always followed by the preposition en (or en l', en la, aux, etc.) when specifying what or whom one has faith in. The structure is avoir foi en [quelque chose/quelqu'un].

💡 J'ai foi en toi. (I have faith in you.)

Il faut avoir foi en l'avenir. (One must have faith in the future.)

Elle a foi en ses convictions religieuses. (She has faith in her religious convictions.)

Nous avons foi en la justice. (We have faith in justice.)

Malgré les difficultés, ils gardent foi en leur projet. (Despite the difficulties, they keep faith in their project.)

To be 'convinced' – être convaincu(e)

To express that you are 'convinced' or 'persuaded' of something in French, you will use the verb phrase être convaincu(e).

As convaincu is a past participle used with the auxiliary verb être, it must agree in gender and number with the subject. This means it becomes convaincue for a feminine singular subject, convaincus for masculine plural, and convaincues for feminine plural.

When stating what you are convinced of, the preposition de (or its contractions du, des, d') is almost always used after convaincu(e).

Another very similar phrase is être persuadé(e), which also means 'to be convinced' or 'persuaded'. Both are common, with convaincu(e) often implying a conviction based on evidence or argument.

💡 Je suis convaincu qu'il a raison. (I am convinced that he is right.)

Elle est convaincue de son innocence. (She is convinced of her innocence.)

Nous sommes convaincus par ses arguments. (We are convinced by his arguments.)

Êtes-vous convaincue de la nécessité de ce changement ? (Are you convinced of the necessity of this change?)

Ils ne sont pas convaincus de l'utilité de cette méthode. (They are not convinced of the usefulness of this method.)

To 'think' or 'suppose' that – penser que

Penser que is a fundamental French phrase meaning "to think that" or "to suppose that". It's used to express an opinion, a belief, or a thought about a fact or a situation.

When you think something is true, penser que is almost always followed by the indicative mood. This reflects certainty or a strong belief about the statement that follows.

However, when expressing doubt or uncertainty with the negative form, ne pas penser que (to not think that), you must use the subjunctive mood for the subsequent verb. This applies to interrogative forms as well when doubt is implied.

Penser is a regular -ER verb, making its conjugation straightforward. Remember to conjugate penser according to the subject, while the verb following que is conjugated based on the mood requirement.

💡 Je pense qu'il fait beau aujourd'hui. (I think it's nice weather today.)

Nous pensons que c'est important d'apprendre le français. (We think it's important to learn French.)

Elle ne pense pas qu'il soit honnête. (She doesn't think he is honest.)

Penses-tu qu'elle vienne à la fête ? (Do you think she's coming to the party?)

Ils pensent que le projet réussira. (They think the project will succeed.)

To 'consider' or 'deem' that – considérer que

To 'consider' or 'deem' that – considérer que

The phrase considérer que directly translates to 'to consider that' or 'to deem that.' It's used to express an opinion, a judgment, or a belief about a situation or fact.

A crucial point for learners: considérer que is always followed by the indicative mood, not the subjunctive. This is because it expresses a conviction or a statement considered as a fact by the speaker.

Unlike verbs expressing doubt, desire, or emotion (which often trigger the subjunctive), considérer que conveys a certainty or a strong personal assessment, thus requiring the indicative.

This construction is standard in both written and spoken French, suitable for a wide range of contexts, from formal discussions to everyday conversations. It often implies a more reasoned judgment than simply 'penser que' (to think that).

💡 Je considère que c'est une excellente idée. (I consider that it's an excellent idea.)

Nous considérons qu'il est temps d'agir. (We deem that it's time to act.)

Elle considère que la situation s'améliore. (She considers that the situation is improving.)

Vous considérez qu'il a raison ? (Do you consider that he is right?)

Ils considéraient que le projet était faisable. (They considered that the project was feasible.)

To 'imagine' or 'fancy' that – s'imaginer que

The French verb s'imaginer que directly translates to “to imagine that” or “to fancy that.” It's a reflexive verb, meaning the action reflects back on the subject, emphasizing the personal nature of the imagination.

This verb is used when someone forms an idea or picture in their mind, often about something that might not be true or is uncertain. It can imply a personal belief or a fanciful thought, similar to 'to suppose' or 'to believe' in an imaginative sense.

A key point for learners: unlike some other verbs expressing doubt or imagination, s'imaginer que generally does not trigger the subjunctive mood in the following clause. You'll typically use the indicative mood after que.

Beyond simple imagination, s'imaginer que can also convey surprise or disbelief at someone's presumption or belief. For instance, 'Tu t'imagines qu'il va venir ?' (Do you really imagine he's going to come?) expresses doubt about the likelihood of his arrival.

It's a common phrase in everyday French to discuss hypotheses, assumptions, or even mistaken beliefs. Remember its reflexive nature (e.g., je m'imagine, tu t'imagines, il s'imagine) for correct conjugation.

💡 Je m'imagine qu'il va pleuvoir cet après-midi. (I imagine it's going to rain this afternoon.)

Tu t'imagines qu'il est millionnaire ? (Do you fancy that he's a millionaire?)

Elle s'imaginait que tout serait facile une fois arrivée. (She imagined that everything would be easy once she arrived.)

On s'imagine souvent le pire dans ces situations. (We often imagine the worst in these situations.)

Ne t'imagine pas que c'est simple de monter une entreprise ! (Don't imagine that it's simple to start a business!)

To be 'persuaded' – être persuadé(e)

The French phrase être persuadé(e) directly translates to 'to be persuaded' or 'to be convinced'. It's used to express a strong belief or certainty about something.

As persuadé is a past participle acting as an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the subject.

For example, you'd say persuadé for a masculine singular subject, persuadée for a feminine singular subject, persuadés for masculine plural, and persuadées for feminine plural.

This phrase is frequently followed by que (that) to introduce a clause expressing what one is convinced of, or by de (of/about) before a noun or an infinitive verb.

💡 Je suis persuadé que tu réussiras. (I am convinced that you will succeed.)

Elle est persuadée de son choix. (She is convinced of her choice.)

Nous sommes persuadés qu'il dit la vérité. (We are convinced that he is telling the truth.)

Ils ne sont pas persuadés par cet argument. (They are not persuaded by this argument.)

To 'trust' or 'have confidence in' – faire confiance à

The French phrase for 'to trust' or 'to have confidence in' is faire confiance à. This is a very common and essential expression for daily communication.

Literally translating to 'to make confidence to,' the verb faire (to make/do) is conjugated, while confiance (confidence, trust) remains a feminine noun. The crucial part is the preposition à, which introduces the person or thing being trusted.

You use faire confiance à when you trust someone, something, or even an institution. For instance, you might trust a friend, a doctor, or a system. Remember that à will contract with definite articles (e.g., au, aux).

This phrase conveys a sense of reliance and belief in the honesty, ability, or reliability of someone or something. It's a fundamental expression to master for expressing trust in French.

💡 Je fais confiance à mon ami. (I trust my friend.)

Elle fait confiance au médecin. (She trusts the doctor.)

Nous faisons confiance à ses compétences. (We trust his skills.)

Faites-vous confiance aux politiciens? (Do you trust politicians?)

Il ne faut pas faire confiance à tout le monde. (One shouldn't trust everyone.)

To 'take for granted' – tenir pour acquis

The most direct and common way to say 'to take for granted' in French is tenir pour acquis.

Literally, tenir pour acquis translates to 'to hold as acquired/granted.' This phrase is typically used with a direct object, meaning you 'hold something as acquired.' So, you'll often see it as tenir quelque chose pour acquis (to hold something as acquired).

The word acquis is the past participle of the verb acquérir (to acquire). When used in this expression, acquis functions as an adjective and must agree in number and gender with the direct object it refers to. For example, if you're taking 'things' (plural, feminine: les choses) for granted, it would be tenir les choses pour acquises. If it's a singular masculine noun like 'your job' (ton travail), it remains acquis.

This expression is frequently used to describe a situation where someone no longer appreciates or values something they possess or experience, assuming it will always be there. It can apply to relationships, privileges, skills, or even abstract concepts like peace or freedom. It carries a connotation of neglect or lack of appreciation.

💡 Il la tient pour acquise. (He takes her for granted.)

Ne tiens pas ta santé pour acquise. (Don't take your health for granted.)

Nous ne devrions pas tenir la paix pour acquise. (We should not take peace for granted.)

Ils tiennent l'aide de leurs parents pour acquise. (They take their parents' help for granted.)

Je tiens parfois mon travail pour acquis. (I sometimes take my job for granted.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “to believe” in French. However, the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances, including old-fashioned terms, regional expressions, and evolving slang that even this author might not be fully aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire croire en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local variations.

You might find some interesting synonyms for croire on your linguistic journey. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to express belief, faith, or conviction.

And if you’re looking for more ways to talk about different aspects of belief or related concepts in French, the WordReference entry for croire is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s a fitting quote to conclude, from Victor Hugo: “Croire, c'est vivre.” (To believe is to live.)