vrai, vraiment

ByFast French

The French words vrai and vraiment are commonly used in everyday conversation. Both relate to the idea of truth or reality, but they are used in slightly different ways.

1. Vrai (True/Real)

The word vrai is an adjective that means “true” or “real.” It is used to describe something that is factual, genuine, or accurate. It can be used with masculine nouns, while its feminine form is vraie.

Examples of Usage:

  • C’est une histoire vraie.
    (It’s a true story.)
  • Il a dit la vraie raison.
    (He told the real reason.)
  • C’est un vrai ami.
    (He’s a true friend.)

Common Phrases with Vrai:

  • C’est vrai ?
    (Is it true?)
  • Ce n’est pas vrai !
    (That’s not true!)
  • Pas vrai ?
    (Right? / Isn’t that true?)
    This phrase is often used to seek agreement, similar to saying “Isn’t it?” in English.
    Example: Tu viens demain, pas vrai ? (You’re coming tomorrow, right?)

2. Vraiment (Really/Truly)

The word vraiment is an adverb that means “really” or “truly.” It is used to emphasize the truth or intensity of something.

Examples of Usage:

  • Il est vraiment gentil.
    (He’s really nice.)
  • Je suis vraiment fatigué.
    (I’m really tired.)
  • Tu aimes vraiment ce film ?
    (Do you really like this movie?)

Common Phrases with Vraiment:

  • Vraiment ?
    (Really?)
    Example: Tu as gagné ? Vraiment ? (You won? Really?)
  • C’est vraiment bien.
    (It’s really good.)
  • Je ne sais vraiment pas.
    (I really don’t know.)

Etymology of “Vrai” and “Vraiment”

Both words come from the Latin word verus, which means “true” or “real.” Over time, verus evolved into the Old French word verai, which eventually became vrai in modern French. The adverb vraiment was formed by adding the suffix -ment (equivalent to the English “-ly”) to vrai, turning it into “truly” or “really.”

Key Differences Between “Vrai” and “Vraiment”

  • Vrai is an adjective and describes nouns (e.g., une vraie histoire – a true story).
  • Vraiment is an adverb and modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., Il court vraiment vite – He runs really fast).

More examples

  1. Vrai:
  • C’est un vrai problème. (It’s a real problem.)
  1. Vraiment:
  • Elle est vraiment intelligente. (She’s really smart.)
  • Vraiment, je ne comprends pas. (Really, I don’t understand.)

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