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A2 verb 11 Min. Lesezeit

indifférer

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Erklärung indifférer in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to express your likes and dislikes. While 'indifférer' might be a bit advanced for a total beginner, it is helpful to recognize it. At this stage, you mostly use 'aimer' (to like) and 'ne pas aimer' (to not like). However, you might hear 'Ça m'est égal', which is a simpler way to say 'It's all the same to me'. Think of 'indifférer' as a fancy version of saying 'I don't have a preference'. If someone asks if you want tea or coffee and you don't care, you can start by saying 'Les deux sont bien' (Both are fine). Later, as you learn more, you will see 'Cela m'indiffère' in books or on TV. It's important to know that in French, we often say 'It' (the thing) does something to 'Me'. So 'Cela m'indiffère' means 'That thing makes me feel nothing'. Don't worry about using it yet, but try to remember that 'in-' often means 'not', and 'différer' is like 'difference'. So 'no difference' means 'I don't care'!

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At the A2 level, you are building your vocabulary to handle everyday situations. 'Indifférer' is a great verb to add because it helps you express neutrality politely. You already know how to say 'Je n'aime pas' or 'Je préfère', but 'indifférer' allows you to say 'It doesn't matter to me'. The most important thing to learn at this level is the sentence structure. Remember: [The Thing] + [me/te/lui] + [indiffère]. For example, 'Le football m'indiffère' (Football doesn't interest me/I don't care about football). Notice how 'Le football' is the subject. You should also learn the basic present tense conjugation. Because it's an -er verb, it's easy! Just be careful with the spelling: 'Il m'indiffère' (with an 'è'). This verb is very useful when you want to be more precise than just saying 'Je ne sais pas'. It shows that you actually have a neutral feeling about the topic. You can use it in shops, with friends (though it's a bit formal), or when talking about your hobbies.

By B1, you are expected to handle more complex social interactions and express your opinions more clearly. 'Indifférer' becomes a key tool for showing detachment or objectivity. At this level, you should be comfortable using it in various tenses, like the Passé Composé ('Son attitude m'a indifféré') and the Future ('Cela m'indifférera toujours'). You should also start to notice the difference in register. While 'Je m'en fiche' is common among friends, 'Cela m'indiffère' is what you would use in a professional setting or when writing a formal email. You can also use it with 'de' and an infinitive: 'Cela m'indiffère de partir ou de rester' (It doesn't matter to me whether I leave or stay). This level is also where you should start using adverbs to modify the verb, like 'totalement', 'complètement', or 'absolument'. 'Cela m'indiffère totalement' is a strong, clear statement. Understanding this verb helps you follow debates and news reports where speakers often discuss what 'indiffère le public' (leaves the public indifferent).

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At the B2 level, you are moving towards fluency and should understand the subtle nuances of 'indifférer'. It's not just about 'not caring'; it's about the lack of impact or relevance. You should be able to use it in the conditional to discuss hypothetical situations: 'Son départ ne m'indifférerait pas si nous étions amis' (His departure wouldn't leave me indifferent if we were friends). You should also be aware of the noun form 'l'indifférence' and how the verb relates to it. At B2, you can use 'indifférer' to describe social phenomena, such as how certain news stories 'indiffèrent la population' because of information overload. You should also be able to recognize it in literature, where it might be used to describe a character's stoicism or coldness. Another key aspect at this level is the use of the preceding direct object agreement in compound tenses: 'Cette nouvelle, je l'ai indifférée' (though this specific construction is rare, the grammar rule applies). You are now using the word to add a layer of sophistication to your speech, choosing it over simpler alternatives when you want to sound more precise and composed.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'indifférer' should be nuanced and stylistically appropriate. You understand that this verb can be used to convey a sense of intellectual superiority or a philosophical stance of non-attachment. You might use it in complex sentences involving sub-clauses: 'Que les résultats soient proclamés aujourd'hui ou demain m'indiffère au plus haut point, pourvu que la procédure soit respectée.' (Whether the results are announced today or tomorrow is of no consequence to me, provided the procedure is followed). At this level, you also explore the negative usage as a form of litotes (understatement): 'Ton succès ne m'indiffère pas' (I actually care quite a bit about your success). This 'double negative' approach is very common in high-level French. You should also be comfortable with the verb in the subjunctive mood: 'Il est surprenant que cela t'indiffère' (It is surprising that you don't care about that). Your vocabulary should also include related terms like 'le désintérêt' or 'l'apathie', and you should be able to explain the subtle differences between being 'indifférent' and being 'impartial'.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'indifférer' and can use it with all its literary and historical connotations. You can analyze its use in classical texts, perhaps comparing it to the 'ataraxie' of the Stoics. You use the verb effortlessly in high-stakes professional or academic environments to maintain a position of objective distance. You might use it in the passive voice or in complex inversions for stylistic effect: 'M'indiffèrent les vaines promesses de ceux qui ne cherchent qu'à plaire.' (The vain promises of those who only seek to please are of no consequence to me). You understand the etymological roots (in- + differre) and how this informs the word's meaning of 'making no difference'. You can use the verb to discuss abstract concepts like 'l'indifférence de la nature' or 'le silence qui indiffère'. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a tool for precise, elegant, and powerful communication. You are also aware of how the word has evolved and can distinguish its use in modern journalism versus 19th-century prose.

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indifférer in 30 Sekunden

Indifférer means to be unimportant or of no interest to someone.
It is a transitive verb: 'Something indiffers me' (Cela m'indiffère).
It is more formal than 's'en ficher' and is used to show detachment.
The spelling changes slightly in the present tense (é becomes è).

The French verb indifférer is an elegant and precise way to express that something has no effect, importance, or consequence to a person. While English speakers might simply say 'I don't care' or 'It doesn't matter to me,' the French verb functions slightly differently in its grammatical structure. In French, the thing that is unimportant is the subject of the sentence, and the person who is feeling the lack of interest is the direct object. This creates a construction similar to 'to interest' (intéresser), where we say 'This interests me' (Cela m'intéresse). Similarly, we say 'This is indifferent to me' or 'This leaves me indifferent' using the verb form: Cela m'indiffère.

Grammatical Essence: It is a transitive verb. The subject is the stimulus (an event, an opinion, a choice), and the object is the person receiving that stimulus. It specifically denotes a lack of emotional or intellectual reaction.

You will encounter indifférer in contexts ranging from polite social refusal to philosophical detachment. It is more formal than the colloquial s'en ficher or the vulgar s'en foutre. When someone uses indifférer, they are often making a statement about their internal state of neutrality. It suggests a certain level of stoicism or perhaps a calculated lack of interest. For example, in a political debate, a voter might say that the promises of a candidate 'indiffèrent' them, implying that the promises carry no weight or credibility in their eyes.

Le choix du restaurant m'importe peu ; en réalité, il m' indiffère complètement.

In everyday life, it is a useful word for maintaining a polite but firm distance. If a salesperson is pushing a product you have no use for, stating cela m'indiffère is a sophisticated way to end the conversation without being overtly rude, though it is quite direct. It communicates that there is no 'difference' (the root of the word) between the options presented to you; they all result in the same zero-level of interest.

Historically, the word carries a weight of intellectualism. In French literature, characters who are 'indifférents' are often portrayed as being above the fray, unaffected by the petty squabbles of society. Using the verb indifférer allows you to tap into this sense of detached observation. It is not just about being bored; it is about the specific absence of a preference or a reaction where one might normally be expected.

Social Nuance: Using this verb can sometimes sound cold or haughty if used in personal relationships. Telling a partner 'Tes problèmes m'indiffèrent' is significantly more cutting than saying 'Je ne sais pas quoi faire'. Use it carefully when emotions are involved.

Rien ne semble pouvoir l'indifférer davantage que les potins de bureau.

Finally, it's worth noting that while the adjective indifférent is very common, the verb indifférer provides a more active way to describe the effect (or lack thereof) of an external force. It places the 'blame' or the 'cause' on the object/event itself: it is the event that fails to move the person.

Mastering indifférer requires understanding its syntax, which is often counter-intuitive for English speakers. In English, we are the subject: 'I am indifferent to this.' In French, the 'this' becomes the subject: 'Ceci m'indiffère.' This is known as a psych-verb construction, where the stimulus is the grammatical subject.

The Core Pattern: [Stimulus] + [Object Pronoun] + indifférer.
Example: La politique l'indiffère. (Politics doesn't matter to him/her.)

Because it is a regular -er verb, its conjugation is straightforward, but it does undergo a stem change in certain forms to maintain the correct vowel sound. The 'é' in the stem (indiffér-) becomes 'è' when the ending is a silent 'e' (indiffère, indiffèrent). This is crucial for correct spelling and pronunciation in the present tense.

Tes excuses m'indiffèrent ; il est trop tard pour regretter.

When using it in the past tense (Passé Composé), it uses the auxiliary 'avoir'. The past participle is indifféré. For example: Son discours m'a indifféré. (His speech left me indifferent / I didn't care about his speech). Note that because the person is a direct object, the past participle would agree with the preceding direct object if it is feminine or plural (e.g., Ces questions l'ont indifférée - if 'l'' refers to a woman).

In the future tense, it maintains its regular structure: Cela ne m'indifférera pas, je t'assure. (That won't be a matter of indifference to me, I assure you). This is often used to emphasize that one will actually care about something, usually in a negative construction to provide reassurance.

Negation: To say you *do* care, you can negate it: Rien de ce que tu fais ne m'indiffère. (Nothing you do is unimportant to me). This is a very poetic and strong way to express care.

Peu importe le résultat, cela m'indiffère totalement.

Another common usage is in the conditional mood to express a hypothetical lack of interest: Cela m'indifférerait si je n'étais pas directement concerné. (It would be of no consequence to me if I weren't directly involved). This highlights the conditional nature of one's attention or concern.

With Infinitive Clauses: You can also use a 'de' + infinitive structure: Cela m'indiffère de savoir qui a gagné. (It doesn't matter to me to know who won).

By practicing these different structures, you can move beyond simple 'I like/I don't like' sentences and express the more nuanced state of 'I am not affected by this'. This is a hallmark of reaching the B1/B2 levels of French proficiency, where emotional subtlety becomes key.

You will hear indifférer in a variety of settings, though it leans towards the formal and the intellectual. It is very common in French media, particularly in interviews where a public figure wants to express that they are not bothered by criticism or by the actions of their rivals.

In News and Media: Journalists often ask: 'Est-ce que cette polémique vous indiffère ?' (Does this controversy leave you indifferent?). The response might be: 'Cela m'indiffère au plus haut point.' (It matters to me not at all / It indiffer-s me to the highest degree).

In French cinema and literature, indifférer is a staple for character development. A character who claims 'tout m'indiffère' (everything is indifferent to me) is usually going through a crisis of existentialism or nihilism. It conveys a profound sense of 'ennui' (boredom or world-weariness) that is a common theme in French culture.

« Le sort de l'humanité semble l'indifférer », écrit l'auteur pour décrire le méchant du roman.

In professional environments, you might hear it during meetings when discussing options that don't have a significant impact on the outcome. A manager might say, 'Que nous choisissions le bleu ou le vert, cela m'indiffère, tant que le projet est fini à temps.' This uses the word to signify that the choice is trivial.

You will also find it in legal or administrative contexts. For instance, a law might state that certain personal characteristics 'doivent indifférer' (must not matter/must be treated with indifference) in the eyes of the court, ensuring neutrality and equality. Here, it takes on a positive, objective meaning of 'impartiality'.

Cultural Context: The Stoic French: There is a certain cultural value in France placed on being 'blasé' or 'désabusé'. Using indifférer fits perfectly into this persona of the sophisticated urbanite who has seen it all and is no longer easily moved.

À Paris, la pluie finit par indifférer les passants habitués au gris.

Finally, in higher-level French exams (like DALF C1/C2), you will frequently see this verb in texts analyzing social trends. For example, a text might discuss how the abundance of information 'finit par indifférer le public' (ends up making the public indifferent), leading to a 'crise de l'attention'. Understanding the verb allows you to grasp the active process of becoming indifferent that the author is describing.

The most frequent mistake learners make with indifférer is a structural one. Because English uses the adjective ('I am indifferent'), learners often try to translate this literally as 'Je suis indifféré'. However, indifférer is a verb that means 'to cause indifference in someone'.

Mistake #1: The Subject-Object Flip: Incorrect: *J'indiffère ce film. (I indifference this movie).
Correct: Ce film m'indiffère. (This movie is indifferent to me). Remember: The thing is the subject, the person is the object.

Another common error is confusing indifférer with différer. While they share a root, différer means 'to differ' or 'to postpone'. Saying 'Cela me diffère' would mean 'This postpones me' (which makes little sense) or 'This differs me', rather than 'I don't care about this'.

Attention : Ne confondez pas « cela m'indiffère » (I don't care) avec « cela diffère » (that is different).

Learners also struggle with the stem change. In the present tense, for je, tu, il/elle/on, and ils/elles, the second 'é' changes to 'è'. Failing to make this change is a common spelling error.
Correct: Il m'indiffère.
Incorrect: *Il m'indiffére.

There is also the issue of register. Using indifférer in a very casual setting with friends might sound slightly 'stuck up' or overly formal. If you're at a bar and your friend asks if you want another beer, saying 'Cela m'indiffère' might get you a strange look. In that context, 'Ça m'est égal' is much more natural.

Mistake #2: Over-formalizing: Context: Choosing a pizza topping.
Too formal: Le choix des garnitures m'indiffère.
Natural: Peu m'importe la garniture. or Ça m'est égal.

Finally, be careful with the preposition 'de'. While you can say 'Cela m'indiffère de faire cela', you cannot say 'Je suis indifférent de cela'. The adjective requires 'à' (Je suis indifférent à cela). This confusion between the verb's lack of preposition and the adjective's requirement for 'à' often leads to 'Cela m'indiffère à...' which is incorrect.

La règle d'or : Avec le verbe indifférer, on n'utilise pas de « à » avant l'objet direct (le pronom « me, te, le... »).

French has a rich vocabulary for expressing lack of interest, ranging from the highly formal to the extremely slangy. Understanding where indifférer fits in this spectrum is key to sounding natural.

Ne faire ni chaud ni froid: This is a very common idiom meaning 'to leave someone cold' or 'to have no effect'. It is more idiomatic than indifférer.
Example: Sa critique ne me fait ni chaud ni froid.
Importer peu: This means 'to matter little'. It's a slightly more active way of saying something isn't important.
Example: Cela m'importe peu.

If you want to be more casual, s'en ficher is the go-to phrase. It is roughly equivalent to 'I don't care' or 'I don't give a hoot'. It is a reflexive verb, so the structure is different: Je m'en fiche.

Au lieu de dire « Cela m'indiffère », un ami dira souvent « Je m'en fiche » ou « Ça m'est égal ».

For a more literary or dramatic effect, you could use laisser de marbre. This literally means 'to leave someone like marble', implying that the person is completely unmoved and frozen in their lack of reaction. It's a very strong way to describe indifference.

Another alternative is se moquer de. While it often means 'to make fun of', when used reflexively with 'en' or a direct object, it means 'to not care about'. Je me moque de son avis (I don't care about his opinion). This is slightly more aggressive than indifférer.

Désintéresser: This verb is closer to 'to lose interest' or 'to make someone lose interest'. It implies a change from a state of interest to one of indifference.

L'adjectif « quelconque » peut aussi être utilisé pour décrire quelque chose qui nous indiffère : « C'est un film quelconque ».

In academic writing, you might see être sans objet. This is very formal and means that something is irrelevant or has no purpose. It doesn't describe the feeling of indifference, but rather the quality of the thing that causes it. Understanding these synonyms allows you to choose the exact level of intensity and formality required for your specific situation.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word 'indifférer' was once used more objectively in science and logic to describe things that had no distinguishing features before it became a word for personal feelings.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ɛ̃.di.fe.re/

US /ɛ̃.di.fe.re/

The stress is evenly distributed, with a slight emphasis on the final syllable 'rer'.

Reimt sich auf

aimer manger parler espérer préférer considérer libérer opérer

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the final 'r' in the infinitive (it should be silent, like 'ray').
Failing to nasalize the 'in' at the beginning.
Confusing the 'é' (closed) and 'è' (open) sounds in conjugated forms.
Pronouncing the 't' in 'indiffèrent' (the 'ent' is silent).
Treating it like an English word 'indiffer'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize due to the English root 'indifferent'.

Schreiben 4/5

Difficult to remember the subject-object inversion and the stem change.

Sprechen 3/5

Requires practice to use the correct object pronouns fluently.

Hören 2/5

Clear pronunciation, though 'indiffèrent' sounds like 'indiffère'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

différent aimer intéresser me/te/lui cela

Als Nächstes lernen

importer s'en ficher laisser froid quelconque mépriser

Fortgeschritten

ataraxie désabusé blasé stoïcisme inanité

Wichtige Grammatik

Psych-verb construction

Cela m'indiffère (The thing is the subject, the person is the object).

-er verb stem changes (é to è)

Indifférer -> Il m'indiffère.

Direct object pronoun placement

Cela m'indiffère vs Cela ne m'indiffère pas.

Infinitive clauses with 'de'

Cela m'indiffère de partir.

Past participle agreement with preceding direct object

Cette nouvelle, il l'a indifférée (if 'l'' is feminine).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Le café m'indiffère, je préfère le thé.

Coffee doesn't matter to me, I prefer tea.

Present tense, 'Le café' is the subject.

Ce film m'indiffère un peu.

This movie is a bit boring/unimportant to me.

Adverb 'un peu' modifies the verb.

La couleur du stylo m'indiffère.

The color of the pen doesn't matter to me.

Subject is 'La couleur'.

Cela t'indiffère ?

Does that not matter to you?

Question form using 'tu' as object 't''.

Le menu m'indiffère, choisis toi.

The menu is all the same to me, you choose.

Imperative 'choisis' follows.

Le score ne m'indiffère pas.

The score does matter to me (negation).

Negation 'ne... pas' around the verb.

Cette musique l'indiffère.

This music doesn't move him/her.

Object pronoun 'l'' for him or her.

Le beau temps m'indiffère aujourd'hui.

The good weather doesn't matter to me today.

Time adverb 'aujourd'hui'.

Leur dispute m'indiffère totalement.

Their argument doesn't matter to me at all.

Use of 'totalement' for emphasis.

Cela m'indiffère de savoir s'il vient ou non.

It doesn't matter to me to know if he is coming or not.

'Cela' as a dummy subject with 'de' + infinitive.

Les potins de bureau m'indiffèrent.

Office gossip is of no interest to me.

Plural subject 'Les potins' leads to 'indiffèrent'.

Ton avis ne m'indiffère pas du tout !

Your opinion matters to me a lot! (Double negative).

'ne... pas du tout' for strong negation.

Est-ce que la mode vous indiffère ?

Does fashion not matter to you?

Formal 'vous' as object.

Ce genre de détails m'indiffère.

This kind of detail doesn't matter to me.

'Ce genre de' is the subject phrase.

Le résultat final nous indiffère.

The final result doesn't matter to us.

Object pronoun 'nous'.

Rien ne semble l'indifférer.

Nothing seems to leave him/her indifferent (he/she cares about everything).

'Rien ne' as negative subject.

Le sort de cette entreprise m'indiffère désormais.

The fate of this company no longer matters to me.

'Désormais' indicates a change in state.

Il a dit que ma réussite l'indifférait.

He said that my success didn't matter to him.

Imperfect tense 'indifférait' for reported speech.

Cela m'indiffère que tu partes, fais ce que tu veux.

It doesn't matter to me that you're leaving, do what you want.

Subjunctive clause 'que tu partes' after the verb.

Ses critiques ont fini par m'indifférer.

His/her criticisms ended up not bothering me anymore.

'Fini par' + infinitive.

Pourquoi cela t'indiffère-t-il autant ?

Why does that matter so little to you?

Inversion in question form with 't' for phonetics.

La politique locale indiffère beaucoup de jeunes.

Local politics doesn't interest many young people.

Subject 'La politique' is singular, verb is 'indiffère'.

Je ne voulais pas que mon silence t'indiffère.

I didn't want my silence to make you think I don't care.

Subjunctive 'indiffère' after 'vouloir que'.

Cette question m'a toujours indifféré.

This question has always been of no interest to me.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Son arrogance finit par indifférer même ses alliés.

His arrogance eventually leaves even his allies indifferent.

Infinitive form after 'finit par'.

L'issue du match m'indiffère, tant que le jeu est beau.

The outcome of the match doesn't matter to me, as long as the play is good.

'Tant que' introduces a condition.

On ne peut pas rester indifférent, mais le bruit m'indiffère.

One cannot remain indifferent, but the noise doesn't bother me.

Contrast between the adjective and the verb.

La célébrité semble l'indifférer au plus haut point.

Fame seems to matter to him not at all.

Expression 'au plus haut point' for emphasis.

Cela m'indifférerait si je n'avais pas de principes.

It would be of no consequence to me if I didn't have principles.

Conditional 'indifférerait' with 'si' clause.

Les fluctuations du marché m'indiffèrent sur le long terme.

Market fluctuations don't matter to me in the long run.

Prepositional phrase 'sur le long terme'.

Peu de choses semblent pouvoir l'indifférer durablement.

Few things seem able to leave him/her indifferent for long.

Adverb 'durablement' (lastingly).

Le qu'en-dira-t-on m'indiffère complètement.

What people say/gossip doesn't matter to me at all.

Noun phrase 'le qu'en-dira-t-on' as subject.

L'inanité de ses propos finit par indifférer l'auditoire.

The emptiness of his words eventually leaves the audience indifferent.

Sophisticated subject 'L'inanité de ses propos'.

Que la critique soit acerbe ou élogieuse m'indiffère.

Whether the criticism is harsh or glowing is of no consequence to me.

Subject is a 'Que' clause.

Rien n'est plus cruel que ce qui nous indiffère.

Nothing is more cruel than that which we don't care about.

Relative pronoun 'ce qui' as subject.

Son sort m'indiffère, car il a cherché sa propre ruine.

His fate is of no concern to me, for he sought his own ruin.

Conjunction 'car' for explanation.

L'esthétique pure m'indiffère si elle manque de fond.

Pure aesthetics don't matter to me if they lack substance.

Abstract nouns 'esthétique' and 'fond'.

Il affectait une froideur qui semblait tout indifférer.

He affected a coldness that seemed to make everything unimportant.

Verb 'affecter' (to feign/affect).

Le temps qui passe ne devrait pas nous indifférer.

The passage of time should not be a matter of indifference to us.

Modal verb 'devrait' (should).

Cette polémique stérile m'indiffère au plus haut point.

This sterile controversy is of absolutely no interest to me.

Adjective 'stérile' modifying 'polémique'.

M'indiffèrent les honneurs dont se parent les ambitieux.

The honors with which the ambitious deck themselves are of no consequence to me.

Stylistic inversion where the verb comes first.

L'univers, dans son immensité, semble indifférer nos tourments.

The universe, in its immensity, seems to be indifferent to our torments.

Personification of 'L'univers'.

Sa morgue n'avait d'égal que le mépris qu'il indifférait.

His haughtiness was matched only by the contempt he showed through indifference.

Highly literary structure.

Il est des silences qui indiffèrent plus que des insultes.

There are silences that are more wounding in their indifference than insults.

Existential 'Il est des...' construction.

Rien de ce qui est humain ne saurait m'indifférer.

Nothing human can be a matter of indifference to me (famous quote variation).

Use of 'saurait' for 'cannot' in a formal sense.

L'œuvre d'art qui n'indiffère personne a déjà échoué.

The work of art that leaves no one indifferent has already failed.

Relative clause 'qui n'indiffère personne'.

Cette vaine agitation m'indiffère, j'aspire à la sérénité.

This vain agitation is of no concern to me; I aspire to serenity.

Juxtaposition of two independent clauses.

Le faste de la cour m'indifférait, je préférais la solitude.

The pomp of the court was of no interest to me; I preferred solitude.

Imperfect tense for habitual state.

Häufige Kollokationen

indifférer totalement

indifférer au plus haut point

sembler indifférer

finir par indifférer

tout m'indiffère

indifférer le public

ne pas indifférer

indifférer royalement

indifférer par nature

cela m'indiffère de...

Häufige Phrasen

Cela m'indiffère.

— I don't care. It's of no consequence to me.

Tu peux partir, cela m'indiffère.

Tout m'indiffère.

— I don't care about anything. I'm feeling apathetic.

Depuis son départ, tout m'indiffère.

Rien ne m'indiffère plus que...

— Nothing matters less to me than... (strong dislike/disinterest).

Rien ne m'indiffère plus que le sport à la télé.

Cela ne m'indiffère pas.

— I actually do care about that. It matters to me.

Ton opinion ne m'indiffère pas, au contraire.

Il n'y a rien qui m'indiffère autant que...

— There is nothing I care about less than...

Il n'y a rien qui m'indiffère autant que les potins.

L'indifférer au possible.

— To make someone as indifferent as possible.

Son bavardage finit par l'indifférer au possible.

Ce qui m'indiffère, c'est...

— What I don't care about is...

Ce qui m'indiffère, c'est le prix.

Autant que cela m'indiffère.

— As much as I don't care about it.

Je le ferai, autant que cela m'indiffère.

Cela m'indiffère de savoir...

— It doesn't matter to me to know...

Cela m'indiffère de savoir qui a raison.

S'indifférer de tout.

— To become indifferent to everything (rare reflexive use).

Il commence à s'indifférer de tout ce qui l'entoure.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

indifférer vs différer

Means 'to differ' or 'to postpone'. It doesn't mean 'to not care'.

indifférer vs indifférent

The adjective form. Used with 'être' (Je suis indifférent) whereas 'indifférer' is a verb (Cela m'indiffère).

indifférer vs désintéresser

Means to make someone lose interest, whereas 'indifférer' is about the state of importance.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Ne faire ni chaud ni froid"

— To leave someone completely indifferent; to have no effect.

Sa menace ne me fait ni chaud ni froid.

informal/neutral

"Rester de marbre"

— To remain completely unmoved or indifferent in the face of emotion or news.

Devant cette tragédie, il est resté de marbre.

literary

"S'en battre l'œil"

— To not care at all (slang).

Je m'en bats l'œil de ses problèmes.

slang

"S'en moquer comme de sa première chemise"

— To not care about something at all, as if it were one's first shirt.

Il se moque de ce contrat comme de sa première chemise.

informal

"Passer outre"

— To ignore or move past something as if it were unimportant.

Elle a passé outre ses remarques désobligeantes.

formal

"C'est le cadet de mes soucis"

— It's the least of my worries/I couldn't care less.

Le qu'en-dira-t-on est le cadet de mes soucis.

informal

"Faire fi de"

— To disdain or disregard something as unimportant.

Il fait fi des conventions sociales.

literary

"S'en tamponner le coquillard"

— To not care at all (very informal/dated slang).

Je m'en tamponne le coquillard !

slang

"N'en avoir cure"

— To not care about something (literary).

Il n'a cure de la richesse.

literary

"Laisser pantois (opposite)"

— To leave someone flabbergasted (the opposite of indifference).

Cette nouvelle m'a laissé pantois.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

indifférer vs différer

Similar spelling and sound.

Différer means to be different or to delay something. Indifférer means to not matter.

Nous différons sur ce point (We differ on this point) vs Cela m'indiffère (I don't care).

indifférer vs ignorer

Both imply a lack of attention.

Ignorer means to not know something or to intentionally not look at it. Indifférer is about the lack of interest.

J'ignore son nom (I don't know his name) vs Son nom m'indiffère (His name doesn't matter to me).

indifférer vs mépriser

Both can be used to dismiss something.

Mépriser is active hate or looking down on something. Indifférer is a total lack of feeling.

Je méprise les menteurs (I despise liars) vs Ses mensonges m'indiffèrent (His lies don't even move me).

indifférer vs s'en ficher

They mean the same thing.

S'en ficher is informal and reflexive. Indifférer is formal and transitive.

Je m'en fiche (Informal) vs Cela m'indiffère (Formal).

indifférer vs ennuyer

Indifference can lead to boredom.

Ennuyer means to bore or to bother. Indifférer means to have no importance.

Ce livre m'ennuie (This book bores me) vs Ce livre m'indiffère (This book is of no consequence to me).

Satzmuster

[Subject] m'indiffère.

Le sport m'indiffère.

Cela [Object Pronoun] indiffère.

Cela nous indiffère.

Cela m'indiffère de [Infinitive].

Cela m'indiffère de perdre.

[Subject] ne [Object Pronoun] indiffère pas.

Ton avis ne m'indiffère pas.

Que [Subclause] [Object Pronoun] indiffère.

Que tu viennes ou non m'indiffère.

[Subject] a fini par [Object Pronoun] indifférer.

Sa colère a fini par m'indifférer.

Rien de ce qui [Verb] ne [Object Pronoun] indiffère.

Rien de ce qu'il fait ne m'indiffère.

[Verb] [Object Pronoun] [Subject].

M'indiffèrent ses mensonges.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

indifférence (f) - indifference

différence (f) - difference

Verben

différer - to differ / to postpone

différencier - to differentiate

Adjektive

indifférent - indifferent

différent - different

Verwandt

différend (m) - disagreement

indifférentisme (m) - religious/philosophical indifference

indifférencié - undifferentiated

désintéresser - to cause to lose interest

intéresser - to interest

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in written French and formal speech; moderate in daily conversation.

Häufige Fehler

Je suis indifféré. → Cela m'indiffère.
You cannot use the passive/adjective form like English. You must use the active verb with 'me'.
J'indiffère la politique. → La politique m'indiffère.
The subject is the thing that causes the indifference, not the person.
Cela m'indiffére. → Cela m'indiffère.
The accent must change from aigu (é) to grave (è) in the present tense singular.
Cela m'indiffère à son avis. → Son avis m'indiffère.
Do not add 'à'. The person is the direct object (me, te, le, etc.).
Cela m'a indifféré (talking about a woman). → Cela l'a indifférée.
The past participle agrees with the preceding direct object pronoun.

Tipps

Think 'Interest'

Structure 'indifférer' exactly like 'intéresser'. If you can say 'Cela m'intéresse', you can say 'Cela m'indiffère'.

Formal vs Informal

Use 'indifférer' in essays and 's'en ficher' with friends. This will help you master French registers.

The Silent 'ENT'

In 'ils indiffèrent', do not pronounce the 'ent'. It sounds exactly like 'il indiffère'.

Use with 'Cela'

Starting a sentence with 'Cela m'indiffère de...' is a very common and useful pattern for formal writing.

The Stoic Pose

Using this verb can make you sound calm and collected, which is often valued in French intellectual circles.

The 'In' Prefix

Remember that 'in-' often means 'not'. So 'indifférer' is 'not-differing'—it doesn't change anything for you.

Negation

Use 'Cela ne m'indiffère pas' to show that you are actually touched or interested in something.

Object Pronouns

Practice saying 'm'indiffère', 't'indiffère', 'l'indiffère' quickly to get used to the flow.

News Context

When you see this in the news, it's often about the public's reaction to a law or a scandal.

Stem Change

Remember the 'accent grave' (è) in 'il indiffère'. It's a common mistake in written exams!

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'IN-DIFFERENT'. If something indiffers you, it makes NO DIFFERENCE to you. You are in a state of 'no difference'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a scale that is perfectly balanced at zero. No matter what you put on it, it doesn't move. That is the state of something that 'indiffère'.

Word Web

Indifférence Neutre Apathie Détachement Impartialité Désintérêt Ennui Stoïcisme

Herausforderung

Try to spend one hour today where everything that usually annoys you 'vous indiffère'. Say to yourself: 'Cela m'indiffère' every time you hit a red light.

Wortherkunft

From the Latin 'indifferens', which is composed of 'in-' (not) and 'differens' (different). It originally meant 'not making a difference'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Something that is neutral, neither good nor bad, and therefore makes no difference to the outcome.

Romance (Latin root).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful using this with friends or family; it can sound very cold and dismissive, implying their concerns are worthless.

English speakers often use 'I don't care', which can sound aggressive. 'Cela m'indiffère' is more about the thing's lack of power over you than your personal anger.

Albert Camus' 'L'Étranger' (The Stranger) is the ultimate study of a man whom everything indiffère. The phrase 'Rien de ce qui est humain ne m'est étranger' (Terence) is often contrasted with 'Rien ne m'indiffère'. French singer Édith Piaf's 'Non, je ne regrette rien' touches on a similar theme of emotional detachment from the past.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Making a choice

Le lieu m'indiffère.
Cela m'indiffère de manger ici ou là.
Choisissez vous-même, cela m'indiffère.
Peu m'importe, cela m'indiffère.

Reacting to criticism

Tes critiques m'indiffèrent.
Ce qu'il pense m'indiffère totalement.
Cela ne m'indiffère pas du tout !
Ses remarques ont fini par m'indifférer.

Discussing politics

La politique m'indiffère.
Le résultat des élections m'indiffère.
Ces débats m'indiffèrent au plus haut point.
On ne peut pas laisser la misère nous indifférer.

Professional settings

Le format du rapport m'indiffère.
Cela m'indiffère de travailler samedi si je peux partir plus tôt.
Votre proposition ne nous indiffère pas.
Les détails techniques m'indiffèrent pour l'instant.

Emotional state

Tout semble m'indifférer ces temps-ci.
Rien ne l'indiffère plus que la solitude.
J'essaie de faire en sorte que cela m'indiffère.
Sa froideur m'indiffère.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Est-ce qu'il y a un sujet qui vous indiffère complètement ?"

"Le choix du restaurant pour ce soir vous indiffère-t-il ?"

"Pensez-vous que la mode indiffère la plupart des gens ?"

"Est-ce que les critiques sur les réseaux sociaux vous indiffèrent ?"

"Qu'est-ce qui ne vous indifférera jamais, quoi qu'il arrive ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décrivez une situation où vous avez dû prétendre que quelque chose vous indifférait alors que ce n'était pas le cas.

Quels sont les sujets d'actualité qui vous indiffèrent et pourquoi ?

Est-il possible de vivre une vie où tout nous indiffère ? Quels seraient les avantages et les inconvénients ?

Écrivez sur une personne de votre entourage que rien ne semble pouvoir indifférer.

Comment votre rapport à ce qui vous indiffère a-t-il changé avec l'âge ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, it is common, especially in formal writing, news, and literature. In casual speech, people prefer 'Ça m'est égal' or 'Je m'en fiche'.

You don't say 'Je suis indifféré'. You say 'Cela m'indiffère' (That indiffers me).

Yes, 'Il m'indiffère' means 'I don't care about him' or 'He has no effect on me'.

'Importer peu' means 'to matter little'. 'Indifférer' is slightly more formal and focuses on the lack of personal interest.

Yes, it is a transitive verb, so it usually has a direct object (me, te, le, etc.).

It can be. It is very direct. In a polite context, it's better to say 'C'est comme vous voulez' (It's as you wish).

J'indiffère, tu indiffères, il indiffère, nous indifférons, vous indifférez, ils indiffèrent. (Note the è in singular and 3rd person plural).

Very rarely, 's'indifférer de quelque chose' exists but is considered archaic or highly literary. Stick to the transitive use.

The most direct opposite is 'intéresser' (to interest) or 'importer' (to matter).

This is a standard French spelling rule for verbs with an 'é' in the last syllable of the stem when the ending is a silent 'e'.

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