How to Say “About” in French: A Complete Guide for English Speakers
When learning French, one of the most versatile English words you’ll encounter is “about.And ” Its translation isn’t a single word but a set of expressions that change depending on context, grammar, and nuance. This article explains every major way to render “about” into French, illustrates each usage with clear examples, and provides handy tips so you can speak and write with confidence.
Introduction: Why “About” Is Tricky
In English, “about” can function as a preposition (about the book), an adverb (he was about to leave), or even a colloquial filler (about that). French, however, splits these meanings across several words: à propos de, sur, environ, près de, de, quant à, à peine, presque, presque que, and others. Choosing the right one depends on three factors:
- The grammatical role – preposition vs. adverb.
- The semantic nuance – location, approximation, subject matter, or imminence.
- The surrounding verb or expression – some verbs demand a specific preposition.
Understanding these layers will prevent the common mistake of over‑relying on “à propos de,” which, while safe, can sound stiff or inaccurate in many situations.
1. “About” as a Preposition Meaning “Concerning” or “Regarding”
1.1 à propos de
- Structure: à propos de + noun
- Use: Formal or neutral contexts when you discuss a topic.
Example:
- We talked about the new policy. → Nous avons parlé à propos de la nouvelle politique.
1.2 concernant / au sujet de
Both are synonyms of à propos de but fit better in written or official language.
- Regarding your request, we will respond soon. → Concernant votre demande, nous répondrons bientôt.
- The article about climate change was enlightening. → L’article au sujet de le changement climatique était éclairant.
1.3 sur
When the English “about” follows a verb that naturally takes “sur” (e.g., write about, think about), French often prefers sur.
- She wrote a book about love. → Elle a écrit un livre sur l’amour.
- What are you thinking about? → À quoi penses‑tu sur ? (colloquial)
1.4 de
In certain idiomatic expressions, de alone conveys “about.”
- He told me about his trip. → Il m’a parlé de son voyage.
- I heard about the accident. → J’ai entendu de l’accident.
2. “About” as an Approximation (Quantity, Time, Distance)
2.1 environ / à peu près
These are the go‑to words for “approximately.”
- There were about fifty people. → Il y avait environ cinquante personnes.
- The meeting will last about an hour. → La réunion durera à peu près une heure.
2.2 près de
Used when the approximation is a range that is close to a specific number or location.
- The town is about 20 km away. → La ville est près de 20 km.
- She arrived about ten minutes early. → Elle est arrivée près de dix minutes en avance.
2.3 presque / quasiment
When the approximation leans toward “almost,” presque (or quasiment) is appropriate.
- I’m about finished. → J’ai presque fini.
- The project is about done. → Le projet est quasiment terminé.
2.4 autour de
For temporal or spatial approximations that imply a surrounding interval.
- We’ll meet about 5 p.m. → Nous nous rencontrerons autour de 17 h.
- The house is about a mile from the river. → *La maison se trouve **autour d’*un mile du fleuve.
3. “About” as an Adverb of Imminence (“about to”)
3.1 sur le point de
The most common translation for “about to” (i.e., on the verge of).
- She is about to leave. → Elle est sur le point de partir.
3.2 être sur le point de + infinitive
Often appears with être to stress the immediacy.
- I was about to call you. → J’étais sur le point de t’appeler.
3.3 presque + infinitive
When the action is very close but not yet started.
- He’s about to cry. → Il est presque en train de pleurer.
4. “About” in Fixed Expressions
| English phrase | French equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| About that (as a filler) | À ce sujet, À propos | Use in conversation. |
| About to (imminent) | Sur le point de | Formal; also prêt à in casual speech. |
| All about (completely) | Entièrement, Tout à propos de | Example: It’s all about love → Il s’agit tout à propos de l’amour. |
| Talk about | Parler de, Discuter de | Choose based on register. Worth adding: |
| Think about | Penser à, Réfléchir à | Think about it → Réfléchis‑y (imperative). |
| Be about (exist in a certain state) | Être à propos de, Être destiné à | Context‑dependent. |
5. Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
-
Overusing “à propos de.”
While safe, it can make sentences sound wordy. Swap with concernant, sur, or de when the verb already implies “about.” -
Confusing “environ” with “près de.”
Environ emphasizes a rough estimate, whereas près de suggests closeness to a specific figure Worth keeping that in mind.. -
Forgetting gender agreement with “autour de.”
The preposition itself never changes, but the noun it precedes must agree in gender and number The details matter here.. -
Using “sur le point de” with non‑action verbs.
Sur le point de works only with verbs that can take an infinitive complement (leave, call, start). It cannot modify adjectives directly Most people skip this — try not to.. -
Mixing “presque” and “environ.”
Presque = “almost”; environ = “around/approximately.” Choose based on whether you mean “nearly” or “roughly.”
6. FAQ
Q1: Can I replace “about” with just “de” after every verb?
A: No. Only verbs that naturally collocate with de (parler, entendre, rêver) allow this. For verbs like écrire or penser, use sur or à propos de.
Q2: Is “concernant” formal?
A: Yes, it leans toward written or official French. In casual speech, à propos de or sur is preferred Small thing, real impact. That alone is useful..
Q3: How do I say “about 10 years old” in French?
A: Use environ or près de: Il a environ dix ans or Il a près de dix ans.
Q4: Does “à propos” ever stand alone?
A: It can function as a transition meaning “by the way” or “speaking of.” Example: À propos, as-tu vu le nouveau film ?
Q5: When should I use “quant à”?
A: Quant à introduces a new subject or contrasts it with a previous one: Quant à moi, je préfère le chocolat. It does not translate directly to “about” but often appears in similar English constructions Small thing, real impact..
7. Practical Exercises
-
Translate the sentences using the most natural French expression for “about.”
- I’m reading a book about World War II. → Je lis un livre sur la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
- There were about 200 attendees. → Il y avait environ 200 participants.
- She is about to start her presentation. → Elle est sur le point de commencer sa présentation.
-
Identify the nuance between environ and près de in the following pair:
- Le trajet dure environ une heure. (approx. an hour, could be a bit more or less)
- Le trajet dure près d’une heure. (very close to exactly one hour)
-
Rewrite the paragraph replacing every instance of “about” with the appropriate French preposition or adverb:
“We talked about the project, about the budget, and about the timeline. I think we’re about ready to move forward, but we need about five more days to finalize the details.”
→ « Nous avons parlé du projet, du budget et du calendrier. Je pense que nous sommes prêts à avancer, mais il nous faut environ cinq jours de plus pour finaliser les détails. »
8. Conclusion: Mastering “About” Makes French Flow Naturally
The English word “about” may seem simple, but its French equivalents span a spectrum of prepositions and adverbs, each with its own shade of meaning. By recognizing the three core functions—concerning, approximation, and imminence—and matching them with the right French terms (à propos de, environ, sur le point de, etc.), you’ll avoid awkward literal translations and sound more like a native speaker The details matter here..
Practice by swapping “about” in everyday English sentences with the French options presented here. Over time, the correct choice will become instinctive, enriching both your spoken fluency and written precision Simple as that..
Remember: language is a toolbox; the more tools you know, the better you can craft the exact meaning you intend. Happy learning, and bonne chance with your French adventures!
