Aimer is probably the first word you learned to say “to like” in French, but did you know there are many other ways to express this feeling? Just like in English, where you can "like," "enjoy," "fancy," or "be fond of" something, French offers a rich palette of verbs and expressions to convey appreciation, affection, or preference.

Learning these alternatives will not only make your French sound more natural and nuanced but also allow you to express a wider range of emotions and opinions. Ready to expand your vocabulary beyond just "j'aime"? Let's dive into 9 different ways to say “to like” in French!

The standard 'to like' or 'to love' – aimer

The standard "to like" or "to love" – aimer

Aimer is the fundamental French verb for expressing fondness, liking, or love. Its meaning shifts depending on whether it refers to a person or a thing.

When aimer is used with objects, concepts, or activities, it generally means "to like." For example, J'aime le chocolat (I like chocolate) or Nous aimons voyager (We like to travel).

When aimer refers to a person, it usually translates to "to love" in a romantic or familial sense. For instance, Je t'aime means "I love you."

To express a platonic "liking" for a person (e.g., a friend or acquaintance) without implying romantic love, the phrase aimer bien is commonly used. So, J'aime bien ma voisine means "I like my neighbor (platonically)."

Aimer is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward. Its present tense conjugation is: j'aime, tu aimes, il/elle/on aime, nous aimons, vous aimez, ils/elles aiment.

You can intensify aimer with adverbs like beaucoup (a lot), passionnément (passionately), or à la folie (madly). For example, Je t'aime beaucoup can mean "I like you a lot" (platonic) or "I love you very much" (romantic, but less intense than Je t'aime alone). The context is key.

Another useful expression is aimer mieux, which means "to prefer." For example, J'aime mieux le café (I prefer coffee).

When using aimer with direct object pronouns, remember to use le/la/les. Je l'aime can mean "I love him/her/it" or "I like him/her/it," again depending on context.

Be mindful of the weight of Je t'aime. In French culture, it's generally reserved for romantic partners or very close family members. Using Je t'aime bien is a safer bet for friends or casual acquaintances.

💡 * J'aime le fromage. (I like cheese.)

• Elle aime son mari. (She loves her husband.)
• Nous aimons bien nos collègues. (We like our colleagues.)
• Tu aimes lire? (Do you like to read?)
• Ils aiment beaucoup leurs enfants. (They love their children very much.)

The 'to like' (but not 'to love') – bien aimer

The “to like” (but not “to love”) – bien aimer

In French, the verb aimer can mean both “to like” and “to love.” This can lead to confusion, especially when talking about people. This is where the phrase bien aimer comes in, offering a clear way to express strong affection without the implication of romantic love.

When you use bien aimer with a person, it means you “like them a lot” or “are very fond of them.” It’s a crucial way to express strong platonic affection, such as for a close friend, a family member, or even a pet, without using the deeper, romantic sentiment of aimer (to love).

For objects, activities, or concepts, bien aimer also means “to like a lot.” It intensifies the feeling of aimer without adding a romantic connotation. For example, J’aime le chocolat means “I like chocolate,” but J’aime bien le chocolat implies a stronger fondness, like “I really like chocolate” or “I’m quite fond of chocolate.”

Using bien aimer is an excellent way to avoid ambiguity. If you simply say J’aime Paul, it could be interpreted as romantic love. But J’aime bien Paul clearly communicates a strong, friendly affection, making your feelings unmistakable.

Think of bien aimer as occupying a sweet spot on the spectrum of affection: it's more than a casual aimer for people, but less intense than aimer (to love) or adorer (to adore). It conveys warmth, genuine appreciation, and a strong preference.

💡 * J'aime bien ma cousine. (I really like my cousin / I'm very fond of my cousin.)

• J'aime bien ce film. (I really like this movie.)
• Elle aime bien travailler le matin. (She really likes working in the morning.)
• Nous aimons bien nos voisins. (We are very fond of our neighbors.)
• Tu aimes bien le café, n'est-ce pas ? (You like coffee a lot, don't you?)

The 'to appreciate' or 'to value' – apprécier

The verb apprécier is a versatile French verb that primarily translates to "to appreciate" or "to value" in English. It implies a recognition of worth, quality, or a positive feeling towards something or someone.

You can use apprécier to express that you like, enjoy, or hold a high regard for both people and things. For instance, you might appreciate a person's qualities, a good meal, a piece of art, or a particular situation.

While aimer can mean "to like" or "to love," apprécier often carries a nuance of a more considered, perhaps less intense, form of liking or valuing. It's about recognizing the positive aspects or the inherent worth, rather than simply having an affection for something or someone.

Apprécier is a regular -er verb. This makes its conjugation relatively straightforward, following the common pattern for verbs ending in -er in French. For example, j'apprécie, tu apprécies, il/elle apprécie, etc.

It can also be used to express gratitude, similar to saying "I appreciate that" or "I would appreciate it if..." in English, often conveying thanks for a gesture or action.

💡 * J'apprécie beaucoup votre aide. (I really appreciate your help.)

• Elle apprécie le bon vin. (She appreciates/enjoys good wine.)
• Nous apprécions son honnêteté. (We appreciate his honesty.)
• Appréciez-vous la musique classique ? (Do you appreciate classical music?)
• J'apprécie de passer du temps avec toi. (I appreciate spending time with you.)

The 'to adore' or 'to really like' – adorer

The verb adorer in French primarily translates to "to adore" in English, conveying a strong sense of liking or loving something or someone.

While it can mean "to worship" or "to intensely love" (e.g., adorer Dieu - to worship God), it's very commonly used in everyday French to mean "to really like" or "to love" something in a much less intense way than the English "adore." For instance, J'adore le chocolat means "I really like/love chocolate," not necessarily "I adore chocolate" in a passionate sense.

You'll hear adorer frequently when people express strong preferences for food, music, places, activities, or even people (friends, family, partners). It's a versatile verb for expressing enthusiasm and enjoyment.

Adorer is a regular -ER verb, which means it follows a predictable conjugation pattern in most tenses. This makes it relatively easy to learn and use.

💡 * J'adore ce film ! (I really like/love this movie!)

• Elle adore voyager. (She loves to travel.)
• Nous adorons nos nouveaux voisins. (We really like/love our new neighbors.)
• Vous adorez la cuisine française, n'est-ce pas ? (You love French cuisine, don't you?)
• Ils adorent leurs enfants. (They adore their children.)

The informal 'to like' or 'to enjoy' – kiffer

The informal 'to like' or 'to enjoy' – kiffer

The verb kiffer is a very popular and informal way to say 'to like,' 'to enjoy,' or even 'to love' (in a less intense way than aimer).

It belongs firmly in the realm of French slang and is widely used among younger generations and in casual conversations. Avoid using it in formal settings.

Originating from Arabic kif (meaning 'pleasure' or 'well-being'), kiffer entered French slang to express 'to feel good' or 'to appreciate'.

You can use kiffer to express enjoyment for almost anything: a person, an activity, a place, or an object. It's a versatile verb for expressing appreciation.

Conjugated like a regular -ER verb, kiffer is an essential part of modern spoken French. It conveys a strong sense of personal enjoyment or affinity without the formality of apprécier or the deep emotion of aimer.

💡 * Je kiffe trop cette chanson ! (I really like this song!)

• Tu kiffes le chocolat ? (Do you like chocolate?)
• On a kiffé notre soirée hier. (We really enjoyed our evening yesterday.)
• Il kiffe sa nouvelle voiture. (He loves his new car.)
• Je te kiffe ! (I really like you! / I'm fond of you!)

The 'to have a soft spot for' – avoir un faible pour

To say you 'have a soft spot for' something or someone in French, you use the expression avoir un faible pour.

Literally, avoir un faible pour translates to 'to have a weakness for'. The word faible means 'weak' (as an adjective) or 'a weakness' (as a noun). So, when you avez un faible pour something, it implies a particular fondness or attraction that you might not always be able to resist, or simply a deep appreciation.

This versatile phrase can be used for people, objects, activities, or even types of food. For example, you can have a soft spot for a certain person, a specific type of chocolate, old movies, or even a particular city. It conveys a sense of affection, preference, or even a slight indulgence.

While it translates to 'soft spot,' the underlying 'weakness' aspect is important. It's often used when you're admitting to a fondness that might be a little irrational or hard to explain, but it's generally positive and endearing. It's less intense than 'loving' (aimer) but stronger than simply 'liking' (aimer bien).

💡 * J'ai un faible pour le chocolat noir. (I have a soft spot for dark chocolate.)

• Elle a toujours eu un faible pour les chats errants. (She's always had a soft spot for stray cats.)
• Malgré ses défauts, j'ai un faible pour lui. (Despite his flaws, I have a soft spot for him.)
• Nous avons un faible pour les films des années 80. (We have a soft spot for 80s movies.)

The 'to please' (used for "I like it") – plaire à

The French verb plaire à literally means 'to please' or 'to be pleasing to'. It's crucial for expressing likes and dislikes, often translating to 'I like it' or 'it pleases me'.

When you want to say 'I like it' in French using plaire à, you structure the sentence as 'something pleases to someone'. The someone is represented by an indirect object pronoun (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur) preceding the verb. For example, Ça me plaît means 'I like it' (literally 'that pleases to me').

The verb plaire conjugates regularly like other verbs ending in -aire (e.g., faire). Importantly, the verb agrees with the thing that is pleasing, not the person who likes it. So, Ces livres me plaisent (These books please me / I like these books) uses the plural form plaisent because livres is plural.

💡 * Ce film me plaît beaucoup. (I like this movie a lot.)

• Est-ce que ça te plaît ? (Do you like it?)
• Son idée lui a plu. (His idea pleased him/her / He/She liked his idea.)
• Ces chansons nous plaisent énormément. (We like these songs enormously.)
• Le nouveau restaurant ne leur a pas plu. (They didn't like the new restaurant.)

The 'to be fond of' or 'to be keen on' – être friand(e) de

The French expression être friand(e) de translates to “to be fond of,” “to be keen on,” or “to have a sweet tooth for.” It signifies a strong liking or desire for something.

While friand literally relates to someone who loves delicious food (especially sweets), its use extends widely to figurative contexts. You can be friand(e) of gossip, compliments, or new experiences, meaning you're keen on them.

It's crucial to remember that friand is an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the subject of the verb être. For example, il est friand, elle est friande, ils sont friands, elles sont friandes.

💡 * Je suis friand de chocolat. (I'm fond of chocolate.)

• Elle est très friande des commérages. (She's very keen on gossip.)
• Nous sommes friands de nouvelles aventures. (We are keen on new adventures.)
• Les enfants sont friands de bonbons. (Children are fond of candies.)
• Il n'est pas friand de ce genre de musique. (He's not keen on this kind of music.)

The 'to find [something] good/nice' – trouver [quelque chose] bien/sympa

The French verb trouver primarily translates to 'to find' in English. It's a regular -er verb, essential for describing the act of discovering something or locating it. However, its utility extends significantly when you want to express an opinion or an assessment.

To say you 'find something good' or 'find something nice' in French, you use the structure trouver + [direct object] + bien or sympa. This construction is crucial for conveying your personal evaluation or impression about a person, an object, a place, or a situation.

A common point of confusion is whether to use bien or bon. While bon is an adjective meaning 'good,' it's generally used for taste (e.g., C'est bon - 'It's tasty') or moral goodness. When expressing a general positive opinion or judgment about how you find something, the adverb bien (meaning 'well' or 'good' in this context) is the correct choice. For example, Je trouve ce film bien means 'I find this film good/well-made.'

Alternatively, you can use the adjective sympa (short for sympathique), which means 'nice' or 'pleasant.' This is particularly suitable when you want to convey that you find something agreeable, friendly, or enjoyable. For instance, Je trouve cette idée sympa means 'I find this idea nice/pleasant.' Both bien and sympa are versatile for expressing positive judgments.

This grammatical construction is widely used in daily French conversation to share impressions, give feedback, or describe experiences. It's a natural way to articulate your subjective appreciation or disapproval. Remember the structure: Subject + trouver (conjugated) + Direct Object + bien/sympa.

💡 * Je trouve ce restaurant très bien. (I find this restaurant very good.)

• Elle trouve ton idée sympa. (She finds your idea nice.)
• Nous trouvons leur maison bien décorée. (We find their house well-decorated.)
• Vous trouvez ce nouveau professeur sympa? (Do you find this new teacher nice?)
• Ils trouvent ce livre bien écrit. (They find this book well-written.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “to like” in French. But the French language, rich and nuanced, offers many other expressions, from formal ones to regional ones, to contemporary slang that even this author might not be fully aware of!

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

You might find some interesting synonyms or idiomatic expressions for aimer or apprécier on this list. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it yourself.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different, more subtle ways to express liking or preference.

And if you’re looking for even more nuances or idiomatic expressions related to liking or preference, the WordReference entries for aimer and apprécier are excellent places to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s a perfect quote to finish it with, reminding us about personal preferences: "Les goûts et les couleurs ne se discutent pas." (Tastes and colors are not discussed, meaning there's no accounting for taste.)