Diese Seite in deiner Sprache

English

فارسی

العربية

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 verb 10 Min. Lesezeit

lutter contre

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps lutter contre in 30 Sekunden

Erklärung lutter contre in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how to express basic needs and actions. 'Lutter contre' might seem a bit advanced because it involves a preposition, but you can understand it in very simple, physical contexts. Think of it as 'fighting against' something you can see or feel. For example, if you are very tired but trying to stay awake to finish your homework, you are 'luttant contre le sommeil' (fighting against sleep). If it is very cold outside and you are shivering, you are 'luttant contre le froid' (fighting against the cold). At this stage, don't worry about complex political uses. Just remember that 'contre' means 'against' and 'lutter' is the action of trying hard. You can use it to describe simple physical struggles. For instance, 'Je lutte contre le vent' (I am fighting against the wind) while walking to school. It is a regular verb, so you can conjugate it like 'parler' or 'habiter'. Just add the endings -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent to the stem 'lutt-'. This will help you describe your daily efforts in a simple but effective way. Even at A1, expressing that something is 'hard' or that you are 'trying' is a very useful skill.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the A2 level, you can start using 'lutter contre' in slightly more abstract but still common everyday situations. You might use it to talk about health or personal habits. For example, 'Je lutte contre la grippe' (I am fighting the flu) or 'Il lutte contre le stress au travail' (He is fighting stress at work). You are now familiar with more prepositions, so 'contre' should feel more natural. You can also use it in the past tense (passé composé) to describe a struggle you had: 'J'ai lutté contre la fatigue toute la journée' (I fought fatigue all day). At this level, you are beginning to understand that 'lutter' is not just for physical wrestling but for any situation where you have to put in effort to overcome a problem. You might see this word in simple news headlines about local issues, like 'Lutter contre le bruit dans la ville' (Fighting against noise in the city). It is a great verb to add to your 'survival' vocabulary because it helps you explain why you are tired or what you are working hard to change in your life. Remember to always include 'contre' if you mention what you are fighting!

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the B1 level, you are expected to discuss social issues and express your opinions. This is where 'lutter contre' becomes a vital part of your vocabulary. You will use it to talk about 'la lutte contre le chômage' (the fight against unemployment), 'la lutte contre la pollution' (the fight against pollution), or 'la lutte contre les inégalités' (the fight against inequalities). You can now use the verb in more complex tenses, such as the conditionnel ('Nous devrions lutter contre...') or the subjonctif ('Il est important que nous luttions contre...'). You should also be able to distinguish between 'lutter contre' (fighting against) and 'lutter pour' (fighting for). At this stage, you can participate in debates and explain your stance on various problems. You might also use it in a professional context, such as 'lutter contre la concurrence' (fighting against competition). Your sentences will become longer and more nuanced, perhaps adding adverbs like 'efficacement' (effectively) or 'activement' (actively). You are moving beyond physical struggles to social and economic ones, reflecting the language used in French newspapers and media.

At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of the nuances of 'lutter contre' and its synonyms. You understand that 'lutter contre' often implies a long-term, sustained effort and a certain degree of nobility or ideological commitment. You can use it to analyze complex social phenomena, such as 'la lutte contre l'exclusion sociale' or 'la lutte contre la corruption systémique'. You are comfortable using the noun form 'la lutte' as well, which is very common in French intellectual and political discourse. You can compare 'lutter contre' with more specific verbs like 'contrecarrer', 'endiguer' (to stem/contain), or 'éradiquer' (to eradicate). You might use it in more sophisticated grammatical structures, such as passive forms or with complex relative clauses. For example, 'C'est un fléau contre lequel nous luttons depuis des décennies' (It is a scourge against which we have been fighting for decades). You also recognize the cultural weight of the word in France, where 'la lutte' is often associated with the rights of workers and the history of social progress. Your usage is precise, and you can adapt the register from formal reports to passionate debates.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C1 level, your use of 'lutter contre' is both fluent and nuanced. You can use it to describe philosophical or psychological struggles with great precision. You might discuss 'lutter contre l'absurdité de l'existence' (fighting against the absurdity of existence) or 'lutter contre l'entropie'. You are aware of the stylistic effects of the verb and can use it to create a specific tone in your writing. You can use 'lutter contre' in rhetorical figures, such as metaphors or personifications. You understand its role in historical texts and can analyze how the concept of 'la lutte' has shaped French political thought. Your vocabulary includes a wide range of synonyms, and you choose 'lutter contre' specifically when you want to emphasize the human effort and the resistance against an opposing force. You can also use it in idiomatic expressions and understand its subtle connotations in different professional fields, such as law, medicine, or sociology. Your sentences are complex and demonstrate a high level of grammatical control, such as using the gerund ('En luttant contre...') to show simultaneity or cause. You are capable of discussing the 'lutte' not just as an action, but as a concept.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C2 level, you have reached a near-native mastery where 'lutter contre' is used with absolute precision and stylistic flair. You can engage in high-level academic or literary analysis of 'la lutte' as a theme. You understand the most subtle differences between 'lutter contre', 's'insurger contre', 'se cabrer contre', and 'faire front à'. You can use the verb in the most complex literary tenses, like the passé simple or the subjonctif imparfait, if writing in a formal or classical style. You are sensitive to the rhythm and prosody of your sentences, using 'lutter contre' to create balance or emphasis. You can discuss the etymological roots of the word and how its meaning has shifted through various historical periods. In a professional or diplomatic context, you can use it to describe strategic opposition or international efforts with perfect appropriateness. You are also aware of the word's potential for irony or hyperbole. Your command of the language allows you to use 'lutter contre' not just to communicate a fact, but to evoke a specific emotional or intellectual response in your audience, reflecting a deep immersion in the French language and culture.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

lutter contre in 30 Sekunden

Lutter contre is a versatile French verb phrase meaning 'to fight against'. It is essential for discussing social issues, health battles, and physical resistance.
Grammatically, it is a regular -er verb that always requires the preposition 'contre' when followed by an object. It cannot be used transitively like the English 'to fight'.
It carries a connotation of sustained effort, grit, and nobility. It is less aggressive than 'combattre' and more formal/noble than 'se battre'.
Commonly heard in news, sports, and activism, it is a key word for understanding French culture's emphasis on social resistance and personal perseverance.

The French verb phrase lutter contre is a cornerstone of the French language when discussing resistance, perseverance, and the active effort to overcome obstacles. At its most basic, literal level, it originates from the world of physical combat and wrestling (la lutte), but in modern usage, it has evolved into a powerful metaphorical tool. When you use this phrase, you are not just saying that you are 'fighting' in a violent sense; you are describing a committed, often prolonged effort to oppose something negative or challenging. It implies a sense of struggle where the outcome is not guaranteed, requiring significant energy and will.

Physical Resistance: In a literal context, it describes the physical act of pushing back against a force. For example, a swimmer might struggle against a current, or a hiker might struggle against the wind. It conveys the tactile sensation of resistance and the muscle power required to move forward despite an opposing physical pressure.

Les marins ont dû lutter contre la tempête toute la nuit pour sauver le navire.

Social and Political Activism: In the French sociopolitical landscape, this verb is ubiquitous. It is the standard way to describe advocacy and activism. Whether it is fighting against inequality, climate change, or corruption, the phrase suggests a collective movement. It is often seen on protest banners and in political speeches to galvanize a population toward a common goal of reform or resistance.

Internal and Health Struggles: On a personal level, it is used to describe the battle against diseases or internal demons. Doctors talk about the body fighting against an infection, and psychologists might discuss a patient fighting against depression or addiction. This usage emphasizes the internal resilience of the individual and the difficulty of the process.

Il est essentiel de lutter contre ses propres préjugés pour mieux comprendre les autres.

The nuance of 'lutter contre' compared to 'combattre' is subtle but important. 'Combattre' often feels more decisive or aggressive, like a soldier in a battle, whereas 'lutter' carries the weight of the effort itself—the heavy breathing, the sweat, and the persistence. It is the verb of the underdog who refuses to give up. Understanding this word is key to understanding French culture, which values the 'lutte' as a noble pursuit in itself, regardless of the immediate outcome. It represents the spirit of resistance that is so deeply ingrained in the French identity, from the French Revolution to modern-day strikes and social movements.

Using lutter contre correctly requires attention to both grammatical structure and context. As an intransitive verb phrase, it functions as a unit. The preposition 'contre' (against) is non-negotiable when you want to specify what is being opposed. Without 'contre', the verb 'lutter' simply means 'to struggle' or 'to wrestle' in a general sense. When you add the object of the struggle, 'contre' acts as the bridge.

Grammatical Conjugation: Lutter is a regular -er verb, making it relatively simple to conjugate. In the present tense, it follows the standard pattern: je lutte, tu luttes, il lutte, nous luttons, vous luttez, ils luttent. Because the struggle is often ongoing, you will frequently see it in the imparfait (je luttais) to describe a continuous state of resistance in the past, or in the subjonctif (que nous luttions) when expressing a necessity or desire for action.

Il faut que nous luttions contre le gaspillage alimentaire dans nos écoles.

Abstract vs. Concrete Objects: The object following 'contre' can be concrete (a person, a storm, a physical barrier) or abstract (an idea, a social ill, a feeling). When the object is abstract, the verb takes on a more metaphorical meaning of 'combating' or 'striving to eliminate'. For example, 'lutter contre le chômage' (fighting unemployment) involves policy and economic strategy, not physical fists.

Common Sentence Patterns: You will often find 'lutter contre' paired with adverbs of intensity to emphasize the difficulty. 'Lutter courageusement contre' (to fight bravely against) or 'lutter désespérément contre' (to fight desperately against). These additions help paint a picture of the emotional state of the subject during the struggle.

Le gouvernement lutte contre l'inflation avec de nouvelles mesures économiques.

Finally, consider the register. 'Lutter contre' is appropriate in almost any setting, from a formal news report to a casual conversation about trying to stay awake during a boring movie ('lutter contre le sommeil'). Its versatility is its strength. However, in very high-level academic writing, you might see more specific verbs like 's'opposer à' or 'contrecarrer', but 'lutter contre' remains the most natural and evocative choice for expressing the human element of effort against adversity.

If you spend a day in a French-speaking environment, you will likely encounter lutter contre several times, across various media and contexts. It is a 'high-frequency' phrase because it encapsulates the concept of effort, which is central to human experience. From the morning news to evening talk shows, the 'lutte' is a constant theme in Francophone discourse.

The Evening News (Le Journal): News anchors frequently use this phrase when reporting on government initiatives or social crises. You will hear about the 'lutte contre le terrorisme', the 'lutte contre la précarité', or the 'lutte contre le réchauffement climatique'. In this context, it sounds official and serious, indicating that the state or a large organization is mobilizing resources to address a major problem.

Ce soir, nous analysons les nouveaux moyens pour lutter contre la cybercriminalité.

Sports Commentary: In the world of sports, especially cycling (like the Tour de France) or rugby, commentators use 'lutter contre' to describe an athlete's battle against fatigue or a difficult opponent. It highlights the physical and mental grit required to succeed. 'Il lutte contre la fatigue pour rester en tête du peloton' (He is fighting fatigue to stay at the front of the pack).

Public Service Announcements: Posters in the Metro or commercials on TV often use the imperative form to encourage civic action. 'Luttons contre le tabagisme' or 'Ensemble, luttons contre l'exclusion'. Here, it serves as a call to arms for the general public to change their behavior or support a cause.

La nouvelle campagne vise à lutter contre les discriminations à l'embauche.

In literature and philosophy, 'la lutte' is a recurring theme, especially in the works of existentialists or Marxists who see life as a series of struggles against social or metaphysical forces. When you hear this word, you are hearing an echo of centuries of French thought regarding the necessity of resistance and the dignity found in the effort to improve one's circumstances or the world at large.

Even for intermediate learners, lutter contre can present a few pitfalls. Most mistakes arise from direct translation from English or from confusing it with similar-sounding French verbs. Mastering these nuances will make your French sound much more authentic and precise.

The 'Contre' Omission: The most common error is forgetting the preposition 'contre'. In English, you can 'fight a disease'. In French, you cannot 'lutter une maladie'. You must say 'lutter contre une maladie'. Without 'contre', the sentence is grammatically incomplete. Always remember: Lutter + Contre + [The Enemy].

Faux: Il lutte la corruption.
Vrai: Il lutte contre la corruption.

Confusing 'Lutter' with 'Combattre': While they are often synonyms, 'combattre' is a transitive verb (it takes a direct object) and usually implies a more direct, often military-style confrontation. 'Combattre l'ennemi' is common. 'Lutter' is more about the internal or sustained effort. Using 'lutter' where 'combattre' is expected (and vice versa) isn't always a 'hard' error, but it changes the 'flavor' of the sentence from direct action to sustained struggle.

The 'Pour' vs. 'Contre' Mix-up: Learners sometimes use 'contre' when they mean they are supporting a cause. If you say 'Je lutte contre la liberté', you are saying you are an enemy of freedom! To say you are fighting for freedom, you must use 'pour'. This is a high-stakes mistake that can completely flip your intended meaning.

Attention: Lutter contre la faim (fighting against hunger) vs. Lutter pour la paix (fighting for peace).

Finally, avoid using 'lutter' for very minor inconveniences where 'avoir du mal à' would be more appropriate. If you say 'Je lutte contre mon stylo' (I'm fighting against my pen), it sounds overly dramatic unless the pen is truly possessed. Reserve 'lutter contre' for challenges that require genuine effort, whether physical, mental, or social.

To expand your vocabulary and sound more like a native speaker, it is helpful to know the alternatives to lutter contre. Depending on the intensity, the formality, and the specific context, other verbs might be more precise.

Combattre vs. Lutter contre: 'Combattre' is more direct and often implies a desire to destroy or completely eliminate the opponent. It is a transitive verb. 'Le vaccin combat le virus' (The vaccine combats the virus). 'Lutter contre' focuses more on the process and the resistance itself. If you are 'luttant contre' a virus, you are in the thick of the struggle; if you are 'combattant' it, you are actively attacking it.

Nous devons combattre cette injustice par tous les moyens légaux.

S'opposer à: This means 'to oppose'. it is more formal and less 'physical' than lutte. It is often used in political or legal contexts where one simply stands against a proposal or a law. 'L'opposition s'oppose au nouveau projet de loi'. It lacks the connotation of 'sweat and tears' that 'lutter' provides.

Se battre contre: This is the most common informal alternative. While 'lutter' sounds noble, 'se battre' sounds like a scrap. However, in modern French, 'se battre contre la maladie' is very common and carries a lot of emotional weight, often used interchangeably with 'lutter' in personal stories.

Il s'est battu contre le cancer pendant cinq ans avec une force incroyable.

Other niche alternatives include 'braver' (to brave/defy, often used with elements like 'braver la tempête'), 'contrecarrer' (to thwart or counteract, usually used for plans or strategies), and 'résister à' (to resist, which implies a more passive but firm stance). Choosing the right word depends on whether you want to emphasize the action, the opposition, the result, or the spirit of the fight.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The French word for the sport of wrestling is still 'la lutte'. So, 'lutter' is what Olympic wrestlers do in the ring!

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ly.te kɔ̃tʁ/

US /ly.te kɔ̃tʁ/

Stress falls slightly on the final syllable of each word: lut-TÉ CON-tre.

Reimt sich auf

buter disputer réfuter chuchoter monter raconter rencontrer dompter

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'u' like 'oo' (English 'loot'). It should be 'ly'.
Pronouncing the 't' in 'lutter' as a soft English 't'. It should be crisp.
Nasalizing the 'o' in 'contre' incorrectly. It's a closed nasal 'on'.
Dropping the final 're' in 'contre' too abruptly.
Confusing 'lutter' with 'louer' (to rent).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Very common in news and books. Easy to recognize.

Schreiben 4/5

Must remember the preposition 'contre' and correct conjugation.

Sprechen 3/5

Pronouncing the 'u' and 'r' correctly takes practice.

Hören 2/5

Clear pronunciation in standard French.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

contre le combat vouloir devoir la force

Als Nächstes lernen

combattre s'opposer à la grève manifester vaincre

Fortgeschritten

endiguer contrecarrer s'insurger la résilience l'hégémonie

Wichtige Grammatik

Prepositional Verbs

Lutter contre, Téléphoner à, Parler de.

Regular -er Verbs

Je lutte, tu luttes, il lutte.

Subjunctive after Necessity

Il faut que nous luttions contre...

Adverb Placement

Il lutte courageusement contre...

Noun Formation from Verbs

Lutter -> La lutte.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Beispiele nach Niveau

Je lutte contre le froid.

I am fighting against the cold.

Present tense, first person singular.

Tu luttes contre le sommeil.

You are fighting against sleep.

Present tense, second person singular.

Il lutte contre le vent.

He is fighting against the wind.

Present tense, third person singular.

Nous luttons contre la fatigue.

We are fighting against fatigue.

Present tense, first person plural.

Vous luttez contre la pluie.

You are fighting against the rain.

Present tense, second person plural.

Elles luttent contre la faim.

They are fighting against hunger.

Present tense, third person plural feminine.

Je veux lutter contre ça.

I want to fight against that.

Infinitive after 'vouloir'.

Elle lutte contre la maladie.

She is fighting against the illness.

Present tense, third person singular.

J'ai lutté contre la grippe la semaine dernière.

I fought against the flu last week.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Nous devons lutter contre le bruit dans le quartier.

We must fight against the noise in the neighborhood.

Infinitive after 'devoir'.

Il lutte contre son envie de manger du chocolat.

He is fighting against his urge to eat chocolate.

Present tense with 'son' (possessive adjective).

Elle luttait contre le stress avant son examen.

She was fighting against stress before her exam.

Imparfait for a continuous past state.

Ils ont lutté contre les vagues pour nager.

They fought against the waves to swim.

Passé composé plural.

Vous luttez contre la mauvaise habitude de fumer.

You are fighting against the bad habit of smoking.

Present tense, formal 'vous'.

On lutte contre la poussière tous les jours.

We fight against dust every day.

Use of 'on' as 'we'.

Elle va lutter contre ses peurs.

She is going to fight against her fears.

Futur proche with 'aller'.

Le gouvernement lutte contre le chômage des jeunes.

The government is fighting against youth unemployment.

Abstract social object.

Il est crucial de lutter contre le réchauffement climatique.

It is crucial to fight against global warming.

Impersonal construction 'Il est crucial de'.

Les associations luttent contre la pauvreté urbaine.

Associations are fighting against urban poverty.

Plural subject and object.

Nous luttons contre les préjugés dans notre société.

We are fighting against prejudices in our society.

Social context.

Elle a lutté courageusement contre son cancer.

She fought bravely against her cancer.

Use of adverb 'courageusement'.

Il faut que nous luttions contre la corruption.

We must fight against corruption.

Subjonctif présent after 'il faut que'.

Ils luttent contre l'extinction des espèces menacées.

They are fighting against the extinction of endangered species.

Environmental context.

Elle lutte contre le gaspillage alimentaire.

She is fighting against food waste.

Modern ecological context.

Cette loi vise à lutter contre l'évasion fiscale.

This law aims to fight against tax evasion.

Verb 'viser à' followed by infinitive.

Les syndicats luttent contre la réforme des retraites.

Labor unions are fighting against the pension reform.

Specific French political context.

Il a dû lutter contre des obstacles administratifs complexes.

He had to fight against complex administrative obstacles.

Passé composé of 'devoir' + infinitive.

Elle lutte contre l'idée que le succès est facile.

She fights against the idea that success is easy.

Fighting against a concept/notion.

Nous luttons contre la désinformation sur les réseaux sociaux.

We are fighting against disinformation on social media.

Digital and modern context.

Ils luttent contre l'exclusion des personnes handicapées.

They are fighting against the exclusion of disabled people.

Social justice context.

Le pays lutte contre une inflation galopante.

The country is fighting against skyrocketing inflation.

Economic terminology.

Elle lutte contre son passé pour avancer.

She fights against her past to move forward.

Psychological usage.

L'écrivain lutte contre l'oubli à travers ses mémoires.

The writer fights against oblivion through his memoirs.

Literary/Metaphorical usage.

Il est impératif de lutter contre l'érosion de la biodiversité.

It is imperative to fight against the erosion of biodiversity.

Formal academic tone.

Elle lutte contre la tentation du repli sur soi.

She fights against the temptation of withdrawing into herself.

Nuanced psychological state.

Les philosophes luttent contre les dogmes établis.

Philosophers fight against established dogmas.

Intellectual context.

Nous luttons contre une vision trop simpliste de la réalité.

We are fighting against an overly simplistic view of reality.

Epistemological context.

Il s'agit de lutter contre l'obsolescence programmée.

It is about fighting against planned obsolescence.

Technical and ethical context.

Elle lutte contre les vents et marées pour réussir.

She fights against all odds (winds and tides) to succeed.

Idiomatic expression 'contre vents et marées'.

La résistance luttait contre l'occupant nazi.

The Resistance fought against the Nazi occupier.

Historical context, imparfait.

Lutter contre l'entropie est le défi ultime de toute structure vivante.

Fighting against entropy is the ultimate challenge of any living structure.

Scientific/Philosophical register.

Elle lutte contre le carcan des conventions sociales étouffantes.

She fights against the straitjacket of stifling social conventions.

Highly metaphorical/literary.

Le poète lutte contre l'indicible pour donner forme au silence.

The poet fights against the unspeakable to give form to silence.

Abstract literary context.

Il convient de lutter contre l'instrumentalisation de l'histoire.

It is appropriate to fight against the instrumentalization of history.

Formal diplomatic/academic register.

Nous luttons contre la déliquescence des liens sociaux.

We are fighting against the decay of social bonds.

Advanced vocabulary ('déliquescence').

Elle luttait contre un sentiment d'inéluctabilité tragique.

She was fighting against a sense of tragic inevitability.

Existentialist theme.

Lutter contre l'hégémonie culturelle demande une vigilance constante.

Fighting against cultural hegemony requires constant vigilance.

Sociopolitical theory.

Ils luttent contre les avatars modernes de l'obscurantisme.

They fight against modern avatars of obscurantism.

Metaphorical/Philosophical.

Häufige Kollokationen

lutter contre le cancer

lutter contre la pauvreté

lutter contre le chômage

lutter contre le sommeil

lutter contre le vent

lutter contre la montre

lutter contre les préjugés

lutter contre l'inflation

lutter contre soi-même

lutter contre l'injustice

Häufige Phrasen

la lutte continue

— The struggle goes on. A famous slogan used in political and social movements.

Même après la défaite, la lutte continue.

un combat de tous les instants

— A constant battle. Describes a struggle that never stops.

Lutter contre cette maladie est un combat de tous les instants.

être en lutte

— To be on strike or in active conflict.

Les ouvriers sont en lutte pour de meilleurs salaires.

lutter pour sa survie

— To fight for one's survival.

L'entreprise lutte pour sa survie économique.

lutter à armes égales

— To fight on equal terms.

Ils ne luttent pas à armes égales dans ce procès.

mener une lutte

— To lead or carry out a struggle.

Elle mène une lutte acharnée contre le sexisme.

lutter pied à pied

— To fight every inch of the way; to resist stubbornly.

Ils luttent pied à pied contre le projet.

lutter contre l'évidence

— To fight against the obvious; to deny the truth.

Il lutte contre l'évidence : il a tort.

lutter contre les éléments

— To fight against the elements (nature).

Les sauveteurs luttent contre les éléments déchaînés.

cesser la lutte

— To stop the fight; to give up.

Il a finalement décidé de cesser la lutte.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

lutter contre vs combattre

Combattre is transitive (no 'contre') and more aggressive.

lutter contre vs se battre

Se battre is more informal and can imply a physical brawl.

lutter contre vs lutter pour

Lutter pour means fighting FOR a cause, not against an obstacle.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"lutter contre vents et marées"

— To fight against all odds; despite all obstacles.

Elle a réussi son projet contre vents et marées.

literary/neutral

"lutter contre des moulins à vent"

— To tilt at windmills; to fight imaginary enemies.

Arrête de t'énerver, tu luttes contre des moulins à vent.

literary

"la lutte pour la vie"

— The struggle for life (Darwinian concept).

Dans la nature, c'est la lutte pour la vie.

scientific/philosophical

"lutter avec l'énergie du désespoir"

— To fight with the energy of despair.

Le naufragé luttait avec l'énergie du désespoir.

literary

"être au cœur de la lutte"

— To be in the thick of the fight.

Il a toujours été au cœur de la lutte syndicale.

neutral

"lutter corps à corps"

— To fight hand-to-hand.

Les deux lutteurs luttent corps à corps sur le tapis.

physical

"lutter de vitesse avec quelqu'un"

— To compete in speed with someone.

Les deux voitures luttent de vitesse sur la piste.

neutral

"lutter contre la montre"

— To race against time.

Les chirurgiens luttent contre la montre pour le sauver.

common

"un terrain de lutte"

— A battleground (metaphorical).

L'éducation est un nouveau terrain de lutte politique.

formal

"baisser les bras"

— To give up the fight (literally: to lower one's arms).

Il ne faut jamais baisser les bras dans la lutte.

informal/neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

lutter contre vs louer

Similar sound to 'lutter' for beginners.

Louer means to rent or to praise. Lutter means to fight.

Je loue un appartement vs Je lutte contre le bruit.

lutter contre vs lueur

Similar sound.

Lueur is a noun meaning a glimmer or faint light.

Une lueur d'espoir.

lutter contre vs lutiner

Shares the same root 'lut-'.

Lutiner means to tease or flirt playfully, very different from fighting!

Il aime lutiner ses amis.

lutter contre vs buter

Rhymes with lutter.

Buter means to stumble or to hit an obstacle.

Il a buté contre une pierre.

lutter contre vs dompter

Often used in similar contexts of struggle.

Dompter means to tame or master (like a wild animal).

Dompter sa peur vs Lutter contre sa peur.

Satzmuster

Je lutte contre [le/la] [noun].

Je lutte contre le froid.

J'ai lutté contre [le/la] [noun].

J'ai lutté contre la grippe.

Il faut lutter contre [le/la] [noun].

Il faut lutter contre la pollution.

Nous luttons contre [les] [noun plural].

Nous luttons contre les inégalités.

[Subject] vise à lutter contre [noun].

Ce projet vise à lutter contre la faim.

C'est un fléau contre lequel nous luttons.

C'est un fléau contre lequel nous luttons depuis longtemps.

En luttant contre [noun], on peut...

En luttant contre le gaspillage, on peut économiser.

Lutter contre [abstract noun] relève de...

Lutter contre l'oubli relève de la nécessité poétique.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

la lutte (the fight/struggle)

le lutteur (the wrestler/fighter)

la lutteuse (female wrestler)

Verben

lutter (to fight/wrestle)

se lutter (rare, to struggle with each other)

Adjektive

lutteur (combative/determined)

Verwandt

le combat

la bataille

la résistance

l'opposition

le conflit

Registriere dich kostenlos, um alle Beispiele zu sehen

So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in journalism, politics, and health discussions.

Häufige Fehler

Il lutte la faim. → Il lutte contre la faim.
Lutter is intransitive and requires the preposition 'contre'.
Je lutte pour le racisme. → Je lutte contre le racisme.
Using 'pour' means you support it! Use 'contre' to fight against it.
Il combatte contre le virus. → Il combat le virus. / Il lutte contre le virus.
Combattre is transitive (no 'contre'). Lutter is intransitive (needs 'contre').
Nous luttons avec la pollution. → Nous luttons contre la pollution.
'Avec' implies you are together with pollution. 'Contre' implies opposition.
Je lutte mon sommeil. → Je lutte contre le sommeil.
Again, the missing 'contre' is the most frequent error.

Tipps

Preposition check

Always check if you need 'contre' or 'pour'. 'Contre' is against, 'pour' is for.

Synonym use

Use 'combattre' for more direct action and 'lutter' for the effort itself.

The Noble Struggle

Remember that in France, 'la lutte' is often seen as a noble and necessary part of life.

The French U

Practice the 'u' in 'lutte' carefully; it's a key sound in French.

Global Issues

Use this phrase when discussing global challenges like climate change or poverty.

Luther King

Associate the word with Martin Luther King Jr. to remember it means to fight for justice.

Adverb pairing

Pair it with adverbs like 'efficacement' to sound more professional.

News keywords

Listen for this word in news headlines; it's a very common 'keyword'.

Daily struggles

Use 'Je lutte !' casually when you are having a hard time with a small task.

Idiomatic use

Learn 'contre vents et marées' to sound like a C1 speaker.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'Lute' (the instrument). Imagine someone trying to 'Lute' (lutter) against a 'Country' (contre) song they hate. They are 'lutter contre' the music!

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a person pushing a giant boulder up a hill (like Sisyphus). The boulder is labeled 'Le Problème' and the person is 'luttant contre' it.

Word Web

Résistance Effort Opposition Social Santé Volonté Courage Obstacle

Herausforderung

Try to write three sentences using 'lutter contre': one about a physical force, one about a health issue, and one about a social problem.

Wortherkunft

From the Latin 'luctari', which means 'to wrestle' or 'to struggle'. It entered Old French as 'luter'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The word originally referred specifically to the sport of wrestling, a physical contest between two people.

Romance (Latin root).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using it in political contexts, as it can sound very 'left-wing' or activist-oriented depending on the audience.

In English, we often use 'fight' for everything. French is more specific: 'lutter' for the effort, 'combattre' for the action, 'se battre' for the brawl.

The slogan 'La lutte continue' (The struggle continues). The film 'La Lutte des classes' (The Class Struggle). The concept of 'Lutte ouvrière' (Workers' Struggle) in politics.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Health

lutter contre la maladie
lutter contre le virus
lutter contre la douleur
lutter contre l'obésité

Environment

lutter contre le changement climatique
lutter contre la déforestation
lutter contre le plastique
lutter contre la pollution

Politics

lutter contre la corruption
lutter contre le terrorisme
lutter contre l'extrémisme
lutter contre la dictature

Social Issues

lutter contre le racisme
lutter contre le sexisme
lutter contre la pauvreté
lutter contre l'exclusion

Personal Life

lutter contre le sommeil
lutter contre la tentation
lutter contre le stress
lutter contre la paresse

Gesprächseinstiege

"Pensez-vous qu'il soit possible de lutter contre le changement climatique ?"

"Comment peut-on lutter contre le stress au quotidien ?"

"Quelles sont les meilleures façons de lutter contre les fausses informations ?"

"Est-il important de lutter contre ses propres peurs ?"

"Avez-vous déjà dû lutter contre une situation difficile ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décrivez une fois où vous avez dû lutter contre un obstacle physique ou mental.

Quelles sont les causes sociales pour lesquelles vous aimeriez lutter contre ?

Réfléchissez à l'importance de lutter contre les préjugés dans votre communauté.

Comment la technologie nous aide-t-elle à lutter contre les maladies modernes ?

Écrivez sur un personnage historique qui a lutté contre l'injustice.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, you must say 'lutter contre la pauvreté'. In French, 'lutter' is an intransitive verb and requires a preposition to connect to its object.

'Lutter' is more formal and often used for noble causes or internal efforts. 'Se battre' is more common in daily speech and often implies a more personal or physical confrontation.

The thing you are fighting against is usually negative (illness, injustice), but the act of 'lutter' is often seen as positive, brave, and noble in French culture.

You would use 'pour' instead of 'contre': 'Je lutte pour mes droits'.

Yes, it is very common in sports like wrestling (la lutte) or to describe an athlete struggling against fatigue or an opponent.

Yes, it is a regular -er verb, which makes it easy to conjugate in all tenses.

The noun is 'la lutte', which means 'the fight', 'the struggle', or 'wrestling'.

Yes, but it means something different. 'Lutter avec quelqu'un' means to wrestle with someone. 'Lutter contre' is the standard for 'fighting against' a problem.

Yes, for example 'lutter contre la concurrence' (fighting against competition) or 'lutter contre la crise'.

It means 'the struggle goes on' and is a famous political slogan in France.

Registriere dich kostenlos für Tipps & Notizen