Grammar: expressions with “avoir”

Many common French expressions make use of the verb “avoir,” but are not translated with the English verb “to have,” which would normally be a direct translation of “avoir.”

  1. Avoir l’air de – to look like/seem like. Example: Tu as l’air fatigué. (You look/seem tired.)
  2. Avoir … ans – to be … (years old). Example: J’ai vingt ans. (I’m 20 [years old]).
  3. Avoir besoin de – to need. Example: J’ai besoin d’aide. (I need help.)
  4. Avoir de la chance – to be lucky. Example: J’ai de la chance d’avoir une famille aimante. (I’m lucky to have a loving family.)
  5. Avoir chaud – to be hot. Example: J’ai chaud. (I’m hot.)
  6. Avoir faim – to be hungry. Example: J’ai faim. (I’m hungry.)
  7. Avoir froid – to be cold. Example: J’ai froid. (I’m cold.)
  8. Avoir envie de – to feel like/want. Example: J’ai envie d’aller au cinéma. (I feel like going to the cinema.)
  9. Avoir l’esprit de l’escalier – to be unable to think of witty comebacks in time. Example: À cause de sa fatigue, il avait l’esprit de l’escalier. (Because of his tiredness, he was unable to think of witty comebacks in time.)
  10. Avoir l’habitude de – to be used to, in the habit of. Example: il a l’habitude de faire des courses après le travail. (He is used to running errands after work.)
  11. Avoir l’heure – to know the time. Example: Avez-vous l’heure ? (Do you know the time?)
  12. Avoir honte – to be ashamed. Example: Elle a honte de ses actes. (She is ashamed of her actions)
  13. Avoir l’intention de – to intend/plan to. Example: J’ai l’intention d’aller à Paris demain. (I intend to go to Paris tomorrow).
  14. Avoir lieu – to take place. Example: La fête aura lieu samedi prochain. (The party will take place next Saturday.)
  15. Avoir mal – to be in pain. Example: J’ai mal à la tête. (I have a headache, but literally “I have pain in the head.”)
  16. Avoir le mal de mer – to be seasick. Example: Je ferais de la voile si je n’avais pas le mal de mer. (I would go sailing if I didn’t get seasick.)
  17. Avoir mal au coeur – to feel nauseous. Example: Elle a toujours mal au coeur quand elle a une migraine. (She always feels nauseous when she has a migraine.)
  18. Avoir peur – to be afraid. Example: J’ai peur du noir. (I’m afraid of the dark.)
  19. Avoir raison – to be right. Example: J’ai raison de demander un délai. (I am right to ask for a delay).
  20. Avoir soif – to be thirsty. Example: J’ai soif. (I’m thirsty.)
  21. Avoir sommeil – to be sleepy. Example: J’ai beaucoup de sommeil. (I’m very sleepy.)
  22. Avoir tort – to be wrong. Example: Vous avez tort. Je n’ai jamais dit une chose pareille (You are wrong. I never said such a thing.)

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