في 15 ثانية
- Taking the necessary steps to complete a formal process.
- Commonly used for paperwork, job hunting, or official applications.
- Implies a proactive and organized approach to a goal.
المعنى
This phrase refers to the process of taking the necessary steps or following specific procedures to achieve a goal, usually involving administrative or formal tasks.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Applying for a visa
J'ai enfin commencé à faire les démarches pour mon visa.
I finally started taking the steps for my visa.
Finding an apartment
C'est fatiguant de faire toutes ces démarches pour l'appartement.
It is exhausting to do all these steps for the apartment.
Starting a business
Elle entreprend les démarches pour créer sa propre entreprise.
She is undertaking the steps to create her own company.
خلفية ثقافية
The 'dossier' is sacred. Doing 'démarches' often involves providing the same 10 documents (ID, proof of address, tax returns) to multiple different offices. While the term is the same, Quebec has digitized many 'démarches' through 'ClicSÉQUR,' making the process feel less like 'walking' and more like 'clicking.' In countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, 'faire des démarches' can sometimes imply seeking social or community support to navigate official channels. The complex federal structure of Belgium means 'démarches' might vary significantly between the Flemish and Walloon regions.
Always Plural
Remember to use 'des démarches' even if you feel like you are only doing one thing. It sounds more natural.
Not for Walking
Don't use it for your morning jog. Use 'faire une promenade' or 'faire de la marche' for that.
في 15 ثانية
- Taking the necessary steps to complete a formal process.
- Commonly used for paperwork, job hunting, or official applications.
- Implies a proactive and organized approach to a goal.
What It Means
Think of this as 'doing the legwork.' It is the active process of getting things done. In France, this usually involves paperwork or official channels. It is not just one action. It is a series of steps to reach a result. You are navigating a system. You are making things happen through official means.
How To Use It
You will mostly use the verb faire with this phrase. You can say faire les démarches. It sounds very natural in daily life. If you want to sound fancier, use entreprendre. This makes you sound like a serious professional. You can also use it in the singular. Faire la démarche means taking a specific initiative. It is about being proactive.
When To Use It
Use it when talking about bureaucracy. Use it for visa applications or bank accounts. It is perfect for job hunting too. You can use it when you start a new project. It works well when you are explaining a long process. Use it when you want to show you are being responsible. It is a staple of adult life in France.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for physical steps. If you are climbing stairs, use les marches. If you are walking in the park, use les pas. This phrase is about abstract or administrative steps. Also, do not use it for simple chores. You do not faire des démarches to wash the dishes. That would be a bit dramatic, even for the French!
Cultural Background
France is famous for its love of paperwork. We call this la paperasse. Because of this, les démarches are a national obsession. Everyone has a story about a missing form. It is a shared struggle that brings people together. Successfully finishing your démarches is a true rite of passage. It means you have conquered the system. It is a moment of pure relief.
Common Variations
You will often hear démarches administratives. This is the classic version for government tasks. There is also démarche commerciale for sales strategies. In a more personal sense, you might hear faire le premier pas. This means making the first move in a relationship. While similar, faire les démarches stays more formal and organized. It implies a structured path to follow.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This is a high-frequency collocation for B1 learners. It is perfectly neutral and safe to use in almost any professional or personal situation involving a process.
Always Plural
Remember to use 'des démarches' even if you feel like you are only doing one thing. It sounds more natural.
Not for Walking
Don't use it for your morning jog. Use 'faire une promenade' or 'faire de la marche' for that.
Use 'Entreprendre'
In a cover letter or CV, use 'entreprendre des démarches' to sound more professional and proactive.
The 'Dossier'
In France, 'faire des démarches' almost always implies creating a 'dossier' (a collection of documents).
أمثلة
6J'ai enfin commencé à faire les démarches pour mon visa.
I finally started taking the steps for my visa.
Standard use for administrative procedures.
C'est fatiguant de faire toutes ces démarches pour l'appartement.
It is exhausting to do all these steps for the apartment.
Expresses the effort involved in a long process.
Elle entreprend les démarches pour créer sa propre entreprise.
She is undertaking the steps to create her own company.
Using 'entreprendre' adds a formal, professional touch.
Tu as fait les démarches pour t'inscrire au club ?
Did you do the paperwork to join the club?
Casual way to ask about a registration process.
Il faut faire trois démarches juste pour avoir un timbre !
You have to go through three procedures just to get a stamp!
Exaggerating the number of steps for comedic effect.
J'apprécie que tu aies fait la démarche de nous contacter.
I appreciate that you took the initiative to contact us.
Using the singular to highlight a specific proactive action.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
Pour obtenir mon visa, je dois ______ des ______ auprès de l'ambassade.
We use the infinitive 'faire' after 'dois' and the plural 'démarches'.
Which preposition is most natural here?
Il a entrepris des démarches ______ la mairie.
'Auprès de' is the standard preposition used with institutions for this phrase.
Match the verb to the context.
1. ______ des démarches (Neutral) 2. ______ des démarches (Formal/Start) 3. ______ les démarches (Completion)
These verbs indicate the level of formality and the stage of the process.
Fill in the missing line.
A: Tu as fini ton dossier ? B: Non, je suis encore ______.
The plural 'les démarches' refers to the specific steps for the dossier.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينPour obtenir mon visa, je dois ______ des ______ auprès de l'ambassade.
We use the infinitive 'faire' after 'dois' and the plural 'démarches'.
Il a entrepris des démarches ______ la mairie.
'Auprès de' is the standard preposition used with institutions for this phrase.
1. ______ des démarches (Neutral) 2. ______ des démarches (Formal/Start) 3. ______ les démarches (Completion)
These verbs indicate the level of formality and the stage of the process.
A: Tu as fini ton dossier ? B: Non, je suis encore ______.
The plural 'les démarches' refers to the specific steps for the dossier.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
12 أسئلةYes, but it usually means a single, specific approach or a moral/social gesture, rather than administrative paperwork.
Not inherently, but because bureaucracy can be annoying, it often carries a tone of 'work' or 'effort.'
'Procédure' is the official rule set; 'démarche' is the action you take to follow those rules.
Absolutely. 'Faire des démarches pour trouver un emploi' is very common.
Yes, though 'effectuer' or 'entreprendre' are often preferred in very formal letters.
Yes, modern administrative steps done online are still called 'démarches en ligne.'
Because administrative processes rarely involve just one single step; they are a collection of actions.
Yes, 'faire une démarche auprès de quelqu'un' can mean approaching them for a date or reconciliation, but it's quite formal.
Not a direct one, but people say 'gérer les papiers' (managing the papers).
It means 'scientific approach' or 'methodology.'
Yes, the usage is identical.
No, that is grammatically incorrect. You likely mean 'toutes les démarches' (all the steps).
عبارات ذات صلة
S'occuper de la paperasse
informalTo deal with the paperwork
Suivre une procédure
similarTo follow a procedure
Prendre des mesures
similarTo take measures
Faire le premier pas
builds onTo take the first step
Dossier administratif
specialized formAdministrative file
