Idiotismes avec avoir

French Expressions with Avoir

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2016-03-07

Many French expression use the verb avoir in an idiomatic way, meaning that they cannot be translated literally.

Lessons with more detail on Idiotismes avec avoir

Avoir faim/soif = To be hungry/thirsty (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir chaud/froid = To be hot/cold (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir raison/tort/de la chance = To be right/wrong/lucky (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir besoin de = To need (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir l'habitude de = To be in the habit of, to tend to (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir peur de = To be afraid/scared of (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir envie de = To feel like, want to (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir [nombre] ans = To be [number] years old (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir mal (à) = To be in pain, to hurt somewhere (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir un exam = To pass an exam (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir du mal à/avec = To have trouble, to struggle to/with (French Expressions with avoir)
Avoir honte de = to be ashamed of (French Expressions with avoir)
Let me take a look at that...