If you want to know how to say about in French, the translation depends on the meaning. Use à propos de or au sujet de for “about” meaning “concerning.” Use environ or à peu près for “about” meaning “approximately.”
“About” in French is often à propos de for a topic and environ for an approximate number. For example, un livre à propos de Paris means “a book about Paris,” while environ dix minutes means “about ten minutes.”
How Do You Say About in French?
English “about” has two main meanings. For a topic, use à propos de, au sujet de, or sometimes sur. The preposition de also appears after verbs such as parler when introducing a topic. For an approximate amount, use environ or à peu près.
Do not translate every use of “about” with one French word. First identify whether you mean “concerning” or “approximately.”
Meaning: About
Different Meanings of About in French
These expressions cover topics, approximate numbers, and general discussion.
1. À propos de — About / Concerning
À propos de introduces a topic. Un article à propos de la France means “an article about France.”
2. Au sujet de — About / Regarding
Au sujet de also means “about” or “regarding.” It is a little more formal: J’ai une question au sujet du projet, “I have a question about the project.”
3. Environ — About / Approximately
Environ means “about” when giving an approximate number, time, distance, or quantity. Environ vingt personnes means “about twenty people.”
4. À peu près — About / More or Less
À peu près means “about,” “approximately,” or “more or less.” It is common in everyday conversation: Il est à peu près midi, “It is about noon.”
5. Sur — About / On
Sur can mean “about” when discussing a subject, especially with books, films, lessons, or presentations: un film sur l’histoire, “a film about history.”
About in French: Quick Comparison
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| French | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|
| à propos de | about / concerning | General topic |
| au sujet de | about / regarding | Formal topic |
| environ | about / approximately | Numbers and quantities |
| à peu près | about / more or less | Approximation in conversation |
| sur | about / on | Books, films, subjects |
How to Pronounce About in French
À propos de is pronounced approximately “ah pro-POH duh.” The final e in de is a light “uh” sound.
Environ is approximately “ahn-vee-ROHN,” with a nasal final sound. À peu près is approximately “ah puh preh.”
How to Use About in a French Sentence
Place à propos de before the topic: Nous parlons à propos du voyage, “We are talking about the trip.” Before a masculine singular noun, de le contracts to du: à propos du film.
Place environ before the number or quantity: environ trois heures, “about three hours.” À peu près can appear before the amount or after a verb, depending on the sentence.
Example Sentences Using About in French
Use: Introducing a topic.
Use: Giving an approximate number.
Use: Giving an approximate time.
Frequently Asked Questions About About in French
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say about in French?
Use à propos de for a topic and environ for an approximate number or amount.
What is the difference between à propos de and environ?
À propos de means “about” as in “concerning.” Environ means “about” as in “approximately.”
How do you say talk about in French?
Say parler de: Nous parlons de ce sujet means “We are talking about this subject.”
How do you say about ten minutes in French?
Say environ dix minutes or à peu près dix minutes.
Can sur mean about in French?
Yes. Sur can introduce a subject, especially with a book, film, or presentation: un livre sur Paris, “a book about Paris.”
How do you say what about in French?
Use Et pour…? or Qu’en est-il de…?, depending on context. Et toi? means “What about you?”
Summary: How to Say About in French
For about in French meaning “concerning,” use à propos de or au sujet de. For “about” meaning “approximately,” use environ or à peu près.
Sur can introduce the subject of a book, film, or lesson. Choose the expression based on the meaning of the English sentence.
