In 15 Sekunden
- Means having courage or guts in a tough situation.
- Used to compliment someone's bravery or inner strength.
- Derived from the word for a notch or gear.
Bedeutung
It means having guts or being brave. You use it to describe someone who has the courage to do something difficult or scary.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Complimenting a friend's career move
Tu as eu du cran de démissionner sans un autre plan.
You had guts to quit without another plan.
Discussing a athlete's performance
Le jeune joueur a vraiment du cran face au champion.
The young player really has guts against the champion.
Encouraging someone before a speech
Allez, un peu de cran ! Tu vas réussir.
Come on, a little courage! You're going to succeed.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The French value 'le cran' as a form of intellectual resistance. It's often used to describe someone who goes against the majority opinion. In Quebec, 'avoir du cran' is also used, but you might also hear 'avoir du guts' (borrowed from English) in very informal settings. Usage is identical to France, often associated with the 'Belgian spirit' of resilience and humor in the face of difficulty. In countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, 'avoir du cran' is understood but might be replaced by local expressions involving 'le cœur' (having heart).
Complimenting others
Use 'Tu as un sacré cran !' to really impress a French speaker with your idiomatic knowledge.
Negative form
Always remember to change 'du' to 'de' when saying someone lacks guts: 'Il n'a pas de cran.'
In 15 Sekunden
- Means having courage or guts in a tough situation.
- Used to compliment someone's bravery or inner strength.
- Derived from the word for a notch or gear.
What It Means
Avoir du cran is all about inner strength. It is that spark of bravery. It is not just being 'brave' in a superhero way. It is about having the grit to face a tough situation. Think of it as having 'backbone' or 'guts'.
How To Use It
You use it just like the verb avoir. You can say il a du cran or tu as eu du cran. It works perfectly when someone stands up for themselves. It also works when someone tries something risky. It is a great way to compliment someone's character.
When To Use It
Use it when a friend quits a job they hate. Use it when someone speaks up in a meeting. It is perfect for sports or stressful life changes. If you see someone being bold, this is your phrase. It feels supportive and admiring.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for small, easy things. Buying a baguette does not require du cran. Avoid it in very formal legal documents. It is a bit too 'human' for cold, professional reports. Also, do not confuse it with being reckless. Le cran implies a controlled, admirable kind of courage.
Cultural Background
The word cran refers to a notch or a gear tooth. Historically, it relates to the 'notches' on a belt or a mechanical trigger. It suggests someone who has 'clicked' into a higher gear of resolve. It became very popular in the 20th century. It captures the French appreciation for 'sang-froid' and mental toughness.
Common Variations
You might hear un sacré cran for someone really brave. People also say il lui manque un cran if someone is a bit wimpy. Sometimes you will hear monter d'un cran. That means to take things up a level. But avoir du cran remains the classic way to praise courage.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is very versatile. It sits comfortably between casual conversation and professional praise. It is never vulgar, unlike some English equivalents involving anatomy.
Complimenting others
Use 'Tu as un sacré cran !' to really impress a French speaker with your idiomatic knowledge.
Negative form
Always remember to change 'du' to 'de' when saying someone lacks guts: 'Il n'a pas de cran.'
Cran vs Courage
'Courage' is more general. 'Cran' is more about the 'grit' or 'nerve' in a specific, high-pressure moment.
The 'Notch' logic
Think of 'cran' as a level. If you have 'cran', you've reached the level of bravery needed for the task.
Beispiele
6Tu as eu du cran de démissionner sans un autre plan.
You had guts to quit without another plan.
Shows admiration for a risky but brave decision.
Le jeune joueur a vraiment du cran face au champion.
The young player really has guts against the champion.
Commonly used in sports commentary to describe resilience.
Allez, un peu de cran ! Tu vas réussir.
Come on, a little courage! You're going to succeed.
Used as a motivational push.
Elle a eu du cran de lui dire la vérité.
She had the guts to tell him the truth.
Perfect for gossiping about someone's boldness.
Ton chat a du cran d'attaquer ce gros chien !
Your cat has some nerve attacking that big dog!
Using a serious phrase for a funny, small-scale situation.
Nous admirons tous le cran dont il a fait preuve.
We all admire the grit he showed.
Fits well in a respectful, slightly more formal tribute.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'avoir du cran'.
Je ne savais pas qu'elle _______ autant de cran !
We use 'avait' (imperfect) to describe a state or discovery in the past. 'Est' is wrong because we use 'avoir'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct negative form:
In a negative sentence, the partitive article 'du' becomes 'de'.
Match the person to the description.
Qui a du cran ?
Avoir du cran implies doing something brave or scary.
Fill in the missing word in this dialogue.
A: 'J'ai dit à mon patron que je n'étais pas d'accord.' B: 'Bravo, tu as eu du ____ !'
The idiom is 'avoir du cran'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Cran vs. Culot
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJe ne savais pas qu'elle _______ autant de cran !
We use 'avait' (imperfect) to describe a state or discovery in the past. 'Est' is wrong because we use 'avoir'.
Choose the correct negative form:
In a negative sentence, the partitive article 'du' becomes 'de'.
Qui a du cran ?
Avoir du cran implies doing something brave or scary.
A: 'J'ai dit à mon patron que je n'étais pas d'accord.' B: 'Bravo, tu as eu du ____ !'
The idiom is 'avoir du cran'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt is neutral to slightly informal. You can use it in most daily situations, including work, but avoid it in very formal legal or academic documents.
Yes! 'Cran' is a masculine noun, but it describes a quality. You say 'Elle a du cran.'
'Cran' is bravery (positive). 'Culot' is nerve or cheekiness (often negative/rude).
No, they are etymologically different. 'Cran' comes from a notch, 'crâne' from the Greek for skull.
Yes, this is very common to emphasize how brave someone is.
It means to be 'on edge' or very stressed/irritable. Don't confuse it with 'avoir du cran'!
Yes, to praise a colleague's initiative or bravery in a meeting.
You don't! It's a nasal vowel /ɑ̃/. If you pronounce the 'n', it sounds like 'crâne'.
'Manquer de cran' or 'être lâche' (to be a coward).
Yes, if a small dog faces a big one, you can say 'Il a du cran !'
Not at all. It is still very much in use by all generations.
No, 'cran' is used in the singular in this expression.
Verwandte Redewendungen
avoir du culot
similarTo have nerve/cheek
ne pas avoir froid aux yeux
synonymTo not be afraid
avoir du coeur au ventre
synonymTo have courage
manquer de cran
contrastTo lack guts
monter d'un cran
builds onTo step it up
