What does savoir in French mean?
What is the meaning of the word savoir in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use savoir in French.
The word savoir in French means know, know, know, can do, be able to do, be known, knowledge, know yourself to be, know, master, know, namely, think you know, know all about, know a thing or two about that, know all about that, be curious to know whether, be curious to know if, let know, knowledgeable people, man of knowledge, make up your mind, you have to know, you have to know that, he simply doesn't want to know, Didn't I hear, Didn't I hear that ...?, have lost your bearings, not know where to turn, not know who to turn to, not know what fate awaits you, not know which way to turn, not know where you stand, be at your wits' end, not know where to start, not know where to start, not know what to do with yourself, be completely useless, be of no use at all, talk about you know nothing about, tell a lie to get at the truth, it remains to be seen, without knowing it, know what to expect, know what tomorrow will bring, know what is going on, know what is about, encyclopaedic knowledge, be grateful to for, know off by heart, know by heart, know perfectly well, know perfectly well that, know full well, know full well that, have a way with, have a knack with, know how to carry yourself, know how to behave, theoretical knowledge, know everything about everything, be a know-all, be a know-it-all, have a knack, have a way with , have a knack with, have a way with girls, social skills, interpersonal skills, savoir-faire, manners, thirst for knowledge, everything gets out in the end, She sells sea shells on the sea shore., Who knows?, Who knows why?, Goodness knows why!. To learn more, please see the details below.
Meaning of the word savoir
knowverbe transitif (avoir connaissance de) (transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.") Je sais qui a été le premier homme sur la lune. I know who the first man on the moon was. |
knowverbe transitif (être informé de [qch]) (transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.") Je sais qu'il a demandé le divorce. I know he asked for a divorce. |
knowverbe transitif (avoir appris [qch]) (transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.") Savez-vous cette fable de La Fontaine ? Do you know this fable by La Fontaine? |
can dolocution verbale (pouvoir faire) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Mon frère sait très bien nager. My brother can swim really well. |
be able to dolocution verbale (pouvoir faire) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Son discours a su nous convaincre. His speech was able to convince us. |
be knownverbe pronominal (se propager) Sa décision de partir commençait à se savoir. His decision to leave was beginning to be known. |
knowledgenom masculin (culture, intelligence) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il est brillant, il a un grand savoir. He is brilliant; he has a great deal of knowledge. |
know yourself to beverbe pronominal (être conscient de) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Il se sait dans de grandes difficultés financières. He knows himself to be in great financial difficulty. |
know, masterverbe transitif (maîtriser) (transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.") Il sait son métier de menuisier. He knows his trade as a carpenter. |
knowverbe transitif (soutenu (connaître) (transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.") Je sais les difficultés par lesquelles vous êtes passés. I know the problems you've been through. |
namelylocution adverbiale (soutenu (c'est-à-dire) (adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.") Les rabatteurs levaient le gibier, à savoir perdrix, cailles et faisans. The beaters would flush out the game; namely partridges, quails, and pheasants. |
think you knowlocution verbale (penser connaître) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") I think I know where she is hiding. |
know all aboutlocution verbale (être au courant de beaucoup de choses) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Le trésorier en sait long sur les magouilles du parti. |
know a thing or two about that, know all about thatlocution verbale (être bien placé pour savoir [qch]) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Ce n'est pas facile d'être gros de nos jours : j'en sais quelque chose ! It's not easy being fat these days; I know all about that! |
be curious to know whether, be curious to know iflocution verbale (vouloir savoir si) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Je serais curieuse de savoir si son appartement est aussi mal rangé que son bureau. |
let know(porter [qch] à la connaissance de [qqn]) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Madame vous fait savoir qu'elle sera absente cette après-midi. Madam would like to let you know that she will be absent this afternoon. |
knowledgeable peoplenom masculin pluriel (savants) (plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.") |
man of knowledgenom masculin (savant) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
make up your mind(demande d'effectuer un choix) Tu voudrais sortir plus mais quand je t'invite au cinéma, tu dis que tu es trop fatiguée pour y aller. Il faudrait savoir ! |
you have to know, you have to know that(cette information est utile) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
he simply doesn't want to know(il n'accepte aucun argument) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Impossible de le faire changer d'avis, il ne veut rien savoir. |
Didn't I hear, Didn't I hear that ...?(J'ai entendu dire) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Je crois savoir que tu sors avec la fille de Paul ? |
have lost your bearingslocution verbale (figuré (être déboussolé) (figurative) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Avec toutes ces offres, on ne sait pas à quel saint se vouer. |
not know where to turn, not know who to turn tolocution verbale (figuré (ne pas savoir à qui s'adresser) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Myriam ne sait pas à quel saint se vouer pour résoudre son problème. |
not know what fate awaits youlocution verbale (figuré, familier (ne pas savoir ce qui va arriver) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
not know which way to turnlocution verbale (être débordé) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
not know where you standlocution verbale (être déboussolé) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
be at your wits' endlocution verbale (être déboussolé) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
not know where to startlocution verbale (avoir trop de sollicitations) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Je ne sais plus où donner de la tête avec toutes ces propositions. |
not know where to startlocution verbale (être débordé) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") En fin d'année, nous ne savons plus où donner de la tête. |
not know what to do with yourselflocution verbale (être très gêné, embêté) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Après sa bévue, Isabelle ne savait plus où se mettre. |
be completely useless, be of no use at alllocution verbale (être un incapable, être bon à rien) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Ce stagiaire ne sait rien faire de ses dix doigts. |
talk about you know nothing aboutlocution verbale (parler en méconnaissance de cause) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
tell a lie to get at the truthlocution verbale (chercher la vérité en mentant) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
it remains to be seen(il faut encore savoir) |
without knowing itlocution adverbiale (sans en avoir conscience) |
know what to expectlocution verbale (apprécier correctement la situation) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
know what tomorrow will bringlocution verbale (connaître l'avenir) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Les soldats ne savaient de quoi demain serait fait. |
know what is going on, know what is aboutlocution verbale (être au courant de [qch]) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Pourriez-vous nous expliquer ? Nous ne savons absolument pas de quoi il retourne. |
encyclopaedic knowledgenom masculin (grandes connaissances) (UK) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
be grateful to forlocution verbale (être reconnaissant à [qqn] de [qch]) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Je vous sais gré de votre aide. |
know off by heart, know by heartlocution verbale (connaître parfaitement) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Il savait par cœur sa leçon d'histoire. |
know perfectly well, know perfectly well that, know full well, know full well thatlocution conjonction (avoir conscience que) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
have a way with, have a knack with(savoir comment agir) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
know how to carry yourself, know how to behavelocution verbale (connaître les bonnes manières) |
theoretical knowledgenom masculin (connaissances non vérifiées) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Les cours magistraux donnent un savoir théorique. |
know everything about everythinglocution verbale (être très savant) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
be a know-all, be a know-it-alllocution verbale (péjoratif (être imbu de soi) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
have a knacklocution verbale (savoir comment agir) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
have a way with , have a knack with(savoir comment agir avec [qqn/qch]) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
have a way with girlslocution verbale (être un bon séducteur) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
social skills, interpersonal skillsnom masculin invariable (comportement) (plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.") Cet écolier présente des problèmes de savoir-être. |
savoir-fairenom masculin invariable (compétence) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Le savoir-faire de ce praticien n'est plus à démontrer. This practitioner's savoir-faire no longer has to be demonstrated. |
mannersnom masculin invariable (civilité) (plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.") Il connaît bien les usages du monde et son savoir-vivre. He is familiar with the ways of the world, and its etiquette. |
thirst for knowledgenom féminin (désir de connaissance) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Les écoliers ont une soif de connaissance. |
everything gets out in the end(rien ne se cache longtemps) |
She sells sea shells on the sea shore.(virelangue) (equivalent) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Les orateurs s'entraînaient à répéter : « Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. ». |
Who knows?interjection (je n'en sais rien) (interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!") Il va peut-être gagner, va savoir ! |
Who knows why?, Goodness knows why!interjection (je me demande pourquoi) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Jeanne n'est pas venue ce soir, va savoir pourquoi. |
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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.