यह पेज आपकी भाषा में

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

A2 noun #1,500 सबसे आम 13 मिनट पढ़ने का समय

course

शीर्ष 1,500

इसका अभ्यास करें उदाहरण नोट्स और सुझाव course 30 सेकंड में

व्याख्या course in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'course' is primarily introduced in its plural form, 'les courses', within the context of daily routines and food. Beginners learn the essential phrase 'faire les courses', which means 'to do the grocery shopping'. This is a fundamental survival phrase for anyone living in or visiting a French-speaking country. You will learn to use it with basic time expressions, such as 'Je fais les courses le samedi' (I do the grocery shopping on Saturdays) or 'Je vais faire les courses avec ma mère' (I am going grocery shopping with my mother). At this stage, the focus is entirely on the practical, domestic application of the word. You do not need to worry about the athletic or metaphorical meanings yet. Just remember that 'les courses' equals food shopping, and it is almost always paired with the verb 'faire'. You might also learn basic vocabulary related to this activity, like 'le supermarché' (the supermarket), 'le marché' (the market), and 'le caddie' (the shopping cart). Mastering this simple phrase allows you to describe a very common part of your weekly schedule and understand when others are talking about their household chores. It is a stepping stone to building more complex sentences about daily life.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the A2 level, your understanding of 'course' expands significantly. You move beyond just 'faire les courses' (grocery shopping) to understand 'une course' as a singular errand. For example, 'Je dois faire une course à la banque' (I have to run an errand at the bank). This distinction between the plural (groceries) and singular (a specific errand) is crucial for accurate communication. Additionally, at this level, you are introduced to the athletic meaning of 'la course' as a race or the sport of running. You will learn phrases like 'la course à pied' (running/jogging) and how to talk about sports events: 'Il regarde une course de vélos à la télévision' (He is watching a bicycle race on TV). You also learn to use verbs like 'gagner' (to win) or 'perdre' (to lose) in conjunction with 'une course'. This dual meaning—errands and racing—makes 'course' a very high-frequency word in A2 vocabulary. You should practice distinguishing the context: if someone is wearing sneakers, 'la course' means running; if someone is holding a shopping list, 'les courses' means shopping. This level builds the foundation for understanding the word's versatility in everyday French conversation.

At the B1 level, the usage of 'course' becomes more nuanced and idiomatic. You are expected to comfortably navigate between its meanings (shopping, errands, racing, taxi fare) without confusion. You will start encountering and using common idiomatic expressions. A key phrase at this level is 'une course contre la montre' (a race against time), which is highly useful for describing stressful situations, deadlines at work, or urgent tasks. You also learn the term 'la course d'orientation' (orienteering), a popular activity in French schools. In the context of transportation, you will understand 'la course' as a taxi ride or fare: 'Combien coûte la course pour aller à l'aéroport ?' (How much is the fare to go to the airport?). At B1, you should also be fully aware of the false friend 'course' vs 'cours' (academic class) and never make the mistake of saying 'une course de français' when you mean 'un cours de français'. Your ability to use 'course' in various contexts—describing a busy day of errands, recounting a sporting event, or talking about a taxi ride—demonstrates a solid intermediate grasp of French vocabulary and an ability to use context clues effectively.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the B2 level, your mastery of 'course' involves understanding its metaphorical and abstract applications in broader societal, economic, and political contexts. You will encounter the word in news articles, debates, and professional settings. Phrases like 'la course aux armements' (the arms race), 'la course à l'espace' (the space race), or 'la course aux profits' (the race for profits) become part of your receptive and productive vocabulary. These expressions use the concept of a physical race to describe intense, often aggressive, competition. You will also understand more complex sporting terminology, such as 'la tête de course' (the leaders of the race) or 'abandonner la course' (to withdraw from the race). Furthermore, you will appreciate the subtle difference between 'faire des courses' (running various errands) and 'faire les courses' (doing the routine grocery shopping). At this level, you can use 'course' to express urgency, competition, and routine with native-like precision. You might also use it in professional contexts, describing a project timeline as a 'course effrénée' (a frantic race). The word is no longer just a concrete noun for a physical activity, but a versatile tool for abstract expression.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the C1 level, your engagement with the word 'course' is sophisticated and deeply integrated into complex linguistic structures. You understand its historical and literary nuances. You might encounter poetic or elevated uses, such as 'la course des astres' (the movement/course of the stars) or 'la course du soleil' (the path of the sun), where 'course' reverts closer to its Latin root 'cursus', meaning a path or trajectory. You are comfortable with highly idiomatic and colloquial expressions like 'être dans la course' (to be in the running / to be relevant or competitive) or 'être hors course' (to be out of the running / eliminated). You can fluidly discuss socio-economic phenomena using terms like 'la course à l'échalote' (a colloquial idiom meaning a ridiculous or petty race/competition). Your understanding of 'course' allows you to play with its meanings, perhaps using a sports metaphor to describe a political campaign ('la course à l'Élysée'). At this advanced stage, the word is a flexible component of your vocabulary, allowing for precise, culturally resonant, and stylistically varied expression in both formal writing and spontaneous, high-level debate.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the C2 level, your command of 'course' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You possess a complete, intuitive grasp of its etymology, its semantic evolution, and its entire range of idiomatic, technical, and literary applications. You can analyze how the concept of 'course' shapes French expressions of time, competition, and daily life. You are familiar with archaic or highly specialized uses, such as in maritime contexts ('la course' referring to privateering, as in 'la guerre de course'). You effortlessly deploy complex metaphors, understanding the exact register and tone of phrases like 'une course à l'abîme' (a race to the abyss / a self-destructive path). You can write elegant prose where 'course' is used to dictate the rhythm of a sentence, reflecting the very motion the word describes. You are also acutely aware of regional variations or highly specific colloquialisms involving the word. At this mastery level, 'course' is not just a vocabulary item to be translated; it is a conceptual framework through which you can articulate profound observations about human behavior, society, and the physical world in flawless French.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

इसका अभ्यास करें उदाहरण नोट्स और सुझाव

course 30 सेकंड में

A competitive race (running, cycling, cars).
Plural: 'les courses' means grocery shopping.
Singular: 'une course' means a single errand.
A taxi fare or the journey taken by a taxi.

The French noun 'course' is a highly versatile and frequently used word that primarily translates to 'race', 'run', or 'errand' in English. Understanding its multifaceted nature is essential for learners, as it bridges the gap between athletic terminology and everyday domestic chores. At its core, 'course' derives from the Latin 'cursus', meaning a running or a journey. In modern French, it has evolved to encompass several distinct but conceptually related meanings. Firstly, in the context of sports and physical activity, 'une course' refers to a race or the act of running. This can range from a casual jog to a highly competitive marathon. For instance, 'la course à pied' is the standard term for the sport of running. Secondly, and perhaps more commonly in daily life, the plural form 'les courses' refers to errands, specifically grocery shopping. When a French person says 'je vais faire les courses', they are almost always referring to buying food and household necessities at a supermarket or local market. Thirdly, the singular 'une course' can refer to a single errand or a specific trip made for a purpose, such as going to the bank or the post office. Furthermore, in the context of transportation, 'une course' refers to a taxi ride or a specific fare journey.

Athletic Meaning: Refers to a competitive race or the physical act of running, such as a marathon or a sprint.

Il a gagné la course de cent mètres.

The distinction between the singular and plural forms is a crucial semantic marker. While 'une course' can be a race or a single errand, 'les courses' almost exclusively denotes grocery shopping. This linguistic quirk reflects the historical evolution of the word, where the idea of running around town to gather supplies transformed into a set phrase.

Domestic Meaning: In the plural, it refers to the routine task of purchasing groceries and household items.

Je dois faire les courses pour le dîner ce soir.

Beyond these concrete definitions, 'course' also appears in numerous idiomatic expressions. 'Une course contre la montre' translates perfectly to 'a race against time', highlighting the urgency and speed inherent in the word's root meaning. Similarly, 'être dans la course' means to be in the running or to be competitive in a given situation, whether in business, politics, or social dynamics.

Transport Meaning: Denotes a specific journey made by a taxi or a delivery service, often calculated by distance or time.

Le chauffeur de taxi a refusé cette course car elle était trop loin.

The concept of 'course' extends into the financial and political realms as well. 'La course aux armements' (the arms race) and 'la course aux profits' (the race for profits) utilize the word to describe aggressive, competitive escalation. This demonstrates how a word rooted in physical movement can abstractly represent human ambition and societal trends.

C'est une véritable course contre la montre pour finir ce projet.

Il est passionné par la course automobile depuis son enfance.

In summary, 'course' is a dynamic noun that captures the essence of movement, whether it is the literal movement of an athlete on a track, the practical movement of a shopper in a supermarket aisle, or the metaphorical movement of competitors striving for a goal. Mastering its various applications is a significant step toward achieving fluency and natural expression in the French language.

Using the word 'course' correctly in French requires careful attention to the verbs that accompany it, the context of the sentence, and whether the noun is singular or plural. The most common verb paired with 'course' is 'faire' (to do/make). However, the meaning shifts dramatically depending on the article used. 'Faire les courses' is the standard, everyday expression for grocery shopping. It implies a routine activity, usually involving buying food and basic household supplies. Conversely, 'faire une course' means to run a single errand, such as dropping off a package at the post office or picking up a prescription from the pharmacy.

Faire les courses: Used exclusively for grocery shopping or buying general household necessities. Always plural.

Le samedi matin, nous allons au supermarché pour faire les courses.

When discussing sports, the verb 'participer à' (to participate in) or 'courir' (to run) is often used. 'Participer à une course' means to take part in a race. If you want to talk about the sport of running in general, you use the phrase 'la course à pied'. For example, 'Je fais de la course à pied' translates to 'I go running' or 'I am a runner'. It is important to note that 'course' can also be modified by various adjectives to specify the type of race. For instance, 'une course hippique' is a horse race, 'une course automobile' is a car race, and 'une course cycliste' is a bicycle race.

Faire une course: Used for running a specific, single errand, like going to the bank or dry cleaners.

Attends-moi ici, je dois faire une petite course à la poste.

In the context of transportation, particularly taxis or ride-sharing services, 'une course' refers to the journey or the fare. A driver might say, 'J'ai fait dix courses aujourd'hui' (I did ten rides today). If a passenger wants to pay for the ride, they might ask, 'Combien coûte la course ?' (How much is the fare/ride?). This usage is highly specific to the transport industry but is very common in urban environments.

Course à pied: The specific term for the sport of running or jogging.

La course à pied est excellente pour la santé cardiovasculaire.

Idiomatically, 'course' is used in several fixed expressions. 'Être en course' means to be running an errand or to be out and about. 'Une course de relais' is a relay race. 'Une course d'obstacles' is an obstacle course, which can be used both literally in sports and metaphorically to describe a difficult process filled with challenges. When writing or speaking, paying attention to these collocations ensures that your French sounds natural and precise. Using 'course' correctly demonstrates a solid grasp of everyday French vocabulary and the subtle distinctions between different types of activities and movements.

Le prix de la course en taxi était exorbitant.

Notre équipe a remporté la course de relais avec brio.

The word 'course' is ubiquitous in French-speaking environments, appearing in a wide variety of contexts ranging from the mundane to the highly specialized. One of the most frequent places you will hear this word is in domestic and family settings. Conversations about household chores inevitably involve 'les courses'. You will hear partners asking each other, 'Qui fait les courses cette semaine ?' (Who is doing the grocery shopping this week?) or parents telling their children, 'Je rentre des courses' (I am coming back from grocery shopping). It is a staple of daily life vocabulary, deeply embedded in the routine of managing a household.

Supermarkets and Markets: The primary location for 'les courses', involving conversations about lists, prices, and food items.

J'ai oublié ma liste de courses sur la table de la cuisine.

Another major domain where 'course' is frequently heard is in sports and recreation. Whether you are watching the Olympics, a local marathon, or a Formula 1 broadcast, the word 'course' will be used repeatedly by commentators and athletes. You will hear phrases like 'le début de la course' (the start of the race), 'la tête de la course' (the lead of the race), and 'abandonner la course' (to drop out of the race). In parks and recreational areas, you might overhear runners discussing their training, saying things like, 'Ma course d'aujourd'hui était difficile' (My run today was difficult).

Sports Broadcasting: Used extensively by commentators to describe the progress, strategy, and outcome of competitive races.

Le cycliste a pris la tête de la course dans la dernière montée.

In urban environments, particularly when dealing with transportation, 'course' is a standard term. If you take a taxi in Paris, the meter calculates the price of 'la course'. You will hear drivers and dispatchers using the term to refer to their jobs and fares. Furthermore, in professional and business contexts, the metaphorical use of 'course' is common. Colleagues might describe a tight deadline as 'une course contre la montre', or analysts might discuss a 'course à l'innovation' (race for innovation) between competing tech companies.

Business and Politics: Used metaphorically to describe intense competition, such as an election race or market competition.

La course à la présidence est officiellement lancée.

Finally, 'course' is prevalent in literature and media. Action films frequently feature 'une course-poursuite' (a high-speed chase). News reports might detail 'la course à l'espace' (the space race) when discussing historical or modern space exploration. The versatility of the word means that whether you are reading a novel, watching the news, or simply chatting with a neighbor, 'course' is a word that will inevitably cross your path. Its presence across such diverse contexts underscores its fundamental importance in the French lexicon.

La police a engagé une course-poursuite sur l'autoroute.

C'est la course tous les matins pour préparer les enfants pour l'école.

One of the most frequent and glaring mistakes English speakers make when learning French is confusing the French word 'course' with the English word 'course' in an academic context. Because they look identical, learners often assume they mean the same thing. However, in French, an academic class or a university program is 'un cours' (masculine, ending in 's' even in the singular), not 'une course' (feminine, ending in 'e'). Saying 'J'ai une course de mathématiques' sounds absurd to a French speaker, as it literally translates to 'I have a mathematics race' or 'I have a mathematics errand'. The correct phrase is 'J'ai un cours de mathématiques'.

Course vs Cours: 'Une course' is a race or errand. 'Un cours' is an academic class or lesson.

Faux: J'aime cette course d'histoire. Vrai: J'aime ce cours d'histoire.

Another common pitfall involves the distinction between 'faire les courses' and 'faire du shopping'. In English, 'going shopping' can refer to buying groceries or buying clothes and luxury items. In French, these concepts are strictly separated. 'Faire les courses' is reserved for utilitarian shopping, primarily groceries and basic necessities. If you want to talk about going to the mall to buy clothes, shoes, or gifts for pleasure, you must use the Anglicism 'faire du shopping' or the more traditional 'faire les magasins'. Saying 'Je vais faire les courses pour acheter une robe' (I am going grocery shopping to buy a dress) is a semantic error.

Courses vs Shopping: 'Les courses' is for food and chores. 'Le shopping' is for clothes and leisure.

Je déteste faire les courses au supermarché le samedi, il y a trop de monde.

Learners also sometimes struggle with the singular versus plural usage when referring to errands. 'Faire une course' means running one specific errand (e.g., going to the dry cleaners). 'Faire des courses' means running several general errands. However, 'faire les courses' specifically means grocery shopping. Mixing these up can lead to slight misunderstandings about your plans for the day. For example, if you tell a friend 'Je dois faire une course', they will expect you to be quick. If you say 'Je dois faire les courses', they know you are heading to the supermarket for a larger haul.

Singular vs Plural Errands: 'Une course' = one errand. 'Les courses' = grocery shopping.

Pardon, je suis en retard, j'ai dû faire une course urgente en venant.

Finally, a literal translation of the English phrase 'of course' often leads beginners to invent the phrase 'de course'. This is completely incorrect. The French translation for 'of course' is 'bien sûr' or 'évidemment'. Using 'de course' will immediately mark you as a non-native speaker and confuse your listener. By being aware of these false friends and specific collocations, learners can significantly improve their accuracy and sound much more natural when speaking French.

Faux: Oui, de course. Vrai: Oui, bien sûr.

Elle participe à une course caritative ce week-end.

When exploring the vocabulary surrounding 'course', it is helpful to understand its synonyms and related terms to enrich your French expression. Depending on the context—whether sports, errands, or transportation—different words can be used to convey similar or more precise meanings. In the context of sports and competition, 'une épreuve' (an event/test) or 'une compétition' (a competition) are excellent alternatives. While 'course' specifically implies a race involving speed, 'épreuve' can refer to any competitive event within a larger tournament, such as a gymnastics routine or a field event in athletics. 'Un marathon' or 'un sprint' are more specific types of 'courses'.

Épreuve / Compétition: Broader terms for sporting events or competitions, not strictly limited to racing.

La course est l'épreuve reine des Jeux Olympiques.

When discussing errands and shopping, 'les achats' (purchases) is a formal synonym for 'les courses'. You might see signs for 'achats en ligne' (online shopping). An older, slightly more regional or traditional term for an errand is 'une commission'. Older generations might say 'Je vais faire quelques commissions' instead of 'Je vais faire des courses'. Another related concept is 'le ravitaillement', which means resupplying or provisioning, often used humorously for a massive grocery haul or seriously in military/sporting contexts (like a feeding station during a marathon).

Achats / Commissions: Alternative words for shopping or running errands. 'Commissions' is slightly dated but still understood.

Ma grand-mère m'a demandé de lui faire une petite course à la boulangerie.

In the realm of transportation and movement, 'un trajet' (a journey/trip) or 'un déplacement' (a movement/trip) are related to the taxi meaning of 'course'. While 'la course' refers to the fare or the specific service provided by the driver, 'le trajet' refers to the physical route taken from point A to point B. For example, 'Le trajet était long, donc la course était chère' (The journey was long, so the fare was expensive). Understanding these nuances allows for much greater precision in storytelling and daily communication.

Trajet / Déplacement: Focuses on the physical journey or travel from one location to another.

Pour cette course, le chauffeur a choisi le trajet le plus rapide.

Lastly, the word 'chemin' (path/way) shares a conceptual link with 'course' in its oldest etymological sense of a path taken. However, in modern French, they are distinct. You run a 'course' on a 'chemin' or a 'piste' (track). By familiarizing yourself with this network of related vocabulary—épreuve, achats, trajet, and piste—you build a robust mental map of French terminology that will serve you well in reading comprehension, writing, and fluent conversation.

Il a terminé la course malgré une blessure au genou.

Faire les courses le ventre vide est une mauvaise idée.

How Formal Is It?

कठिनाई स्तर

ज़रूरी व्याकरण

Using 'faire' with activities (faire de la, faire les)

Definite vs Indefinite articles (les courses vs une course)

Prepositions with sports (participer à)

Compound nouns (course à pied)

Gender of nouns ending in -se

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण

Je fais les courses le samedi.

I do the grocery shopping on Saturdays.

Uses 'faire les courses' for routine grocery shopping.

Maman va faire les courses.

Mom is going to do the grocery shopping.

Combined with the near future tense (aller + infinitive).

J'aime la course.

I like racing/running.

Basic use of the singular noun for the sport.

Où sont mes courses ?

Where are my groceries?

Using 'courses' to mean the purchased items themselves.

Il gagne la course.

He wins the race.

Simple present tense with the verb 'gagner'.

Nous faisons les courses ensemble.

We do the grocery shopping together.

First person plural conjugation of 'faire'.

C'est une grande course.

It is a big race.

Adjective placement before the noun.

Je déteste faire les courses.

I hate doing the grocery shopping.

Using a verb of preference followed by the infinitive.

Je dois faire une course à la poste.

I have to run an errand at the post office.

Using 'une course' for a single errand.

La course à pied est mon sport préféré.

Running is my favorite sport.

Using the specific term 'course à pied'.

Il a participé à une course de vélos.

He participated in a bicycle race.

Passé composé with 'participer à'.

Combien coûte la course en taxi ?

How much does the taxi ride cost?

Using 'course' for a transport fare.

J'ai oublié ma liste de courses.

I forgot my shopping list.

Compound noun 'liste de courses'.

Elle a fini la course en première position.

She finished the race in first place.

Using 'finir' with a placement phrase.

Nous avons fait beaucoup de courses hier.

We ran a lot of errands yesterday.

Using 'beaucoup de' with the plural 'courses'.

Le départ de la course est à huit heures.

The start of the race is at eight o'clock.

Vocabulary related to the event timeline.

C'est une véritable course contre la montre pour finir ce projet.

It's a real race against time to finish this project.

Idiomatic expression 'course contre la montre'.

Le chauffeur de taxi a refusé la course car c'était trop loin.

The taxi driver refused the fare because it was too far.

Contextual use in transportation.

Je fais mes courses en ligne pour gagner du temps.

I do my grocery shopping online to save time.

Modern context of 'faire les courses'.

Il s'entraîne dur pour la course de relais de la semaine prochaine.

He is training hard for next week's relay race.

Specific sports terminology 'course de relais'.

Pendant les soldes, c'est toujours la course dans les magasins.

During the sales, it's always a rush in the stores.

Colloquial use meaning 'a rush' or 'chaos'.

Elle a dû abandonner la course à cause d'une blessure.

She had to drop out of the race because of an injury.

Vocabulary related to sports outcomes 'abandonner'.

Faire les courses le samedi après-midi est une mauvaise idée.

Grocery shopping on Saturday afternoon is a bad idea.

Using the infinitive phrase as the subject of the sentence.

Il est toujours en course pour le titre de champion.

He is still in the running for the championship title.

Idiomatic expression 'être en course'.

La course aux armements pendant la guerre froide a été une période de grande tension.

The arms race during the Cold War was a period of great tension.

Metaphorical political use 'course aux armements'.

Les entreprises technologiques se livrent à une course effrénée à l'innovation.

Tech companies are engaged in a frantic race for innovation.

Advanced vocabulary 'se livrer à une course effrénée'.

Le peloton a rattrapé les échappés dans la dernière heure de course.

The peloton caught up with the breakaway riders in the final hour of the race.

Specific cycling terminology 'heure de course'.

Il a fait une course rapide en ville avant la fermeture des bureaux.

He ran a quick errand in town before the offices closed.

Nuanced use of 'une course' for an administrative task.

Cette start-up est bien placée dans la course aux financements.

This startup is well-positioned in the race for funding.

Metaphorical business use.

La course d'obstacles s'est avérée plus difficile que prévu.

The obstacle course turned out to be more difficult than expected.

Literal or metaphorical use of 'course d'obstacles'.

Je déteste la corvée des courses hebdomadaires au supermarché.

I hate the chore of the weekly supermarket shopping.

Using 'corvée' to describe the nature of 'les courses'.

Le candidat a relancé sa campagne pour rester dans la course à la présidence.

The candidate relaunched his campaign to stay in the presidential race.

Political context 'course à la présidence'.

La course des astres a toujours fasciné les astronomes de l'Antiquité.

The movement of the stars has always fascinated astronomers of antiquity.

Literary/scientific use meaning trajectory or movement.

Dans cette entreprise, c'est la course à l'échalote pour obtenir une promotion.

In this company, it's a ridiculous rat race to get a promotion.

Highly colloquial idiom 'course à l'échalote'.

Le gouvernement s'est engagé dans une course à l'abîme sur le plan économique.

The government has embarked on a race to the bottom economically.

Elevated metaphorical use 'course à l'abîme'.

Il a suivi le cours des événements sans jamais vraiment entrer dans la course.

He followed the course of events without ever really getting into the race.

Playing with the distinction between 'le cours' and 'la course'.

La guerre de course était une stratégie navale courante au XVIIIe siècle.

Privateering was a common naval strategy in the 18th century.

Historical maritime terminology 'guerre de course'.

Cette mesure n'est qu'un palliatif dans la course contre le réchauffement climatique.

This measure is merely a palliative in the race against global warming.

Complex sentence structure discussing global issues.

Il a remporté l'épreuve au terme d'une course tactique et haletante.

He won the event at the end of a tactical and breathless race.

Advanced descriptive adjectives 'tactique et haletante'.

La course au gigantisme des navires de croisière pose des problèmes écologiques.

The race for gigantism in cruise ships poses ecological problems.

Societal critique using 'course au [noun]'.

L'auteur décrit la vie humaine comme une course inéluctable vers le néant.

The author describes human life as an inevitable race toward nothingness.

Deeply literary and philosophical application.

La dérégulation a provoqué une course au moins-disant social et environnemental.

Deregulation has caused a race to the bottom in social and environmental standards.

Complex socio-economic terminology 'course au moins-disant'.

Il a su s'extraire de cette course effrénée au profit pour retrouver un sens à sa vie.

He managed to extricate himself from this frantic race for profit to find meaning in his life.

Nuanced expression of personal philosophy.

La course folle des particules dans l'accélérateur permet de sonder la matière.

The mad dash of particles in the accelerator allows us to probe matter.

Scientific context using 'course' for subatomic movement.

Ce roman picaresque est une longue course à travers l'Europe du Siècle des Lumières.

This picaresque novel is a long journey across Enlightenment Europe.

Using 'course' in its archaic sense of a long journey or roaming.

Être mis hors course si tôt dans la compétition a été un coup dur pour son ego.

Being knocked out of the running so early in the competition was a heavy blow to his ego.

Passive voice with the idiom 'mis hors course'.

La course à l'audience pousse parfois les médias à privilégier le sensationnalisme.

The race for ratings sometimes pushes the media to favor sensationalism.

Media critique using 'course à l'audience'.

Il a mené sa barque avec prudence, refusant de participer à cette course aux honneurs vaine.

He steered his boat carefully, refusing to participate in this vain race for honors.

Poetic phrasing combining idioms.

सामान्य शब्द संयोजन

faire les courses

course à pied

gagner la course

course contre la montre

liste de courses

course automobile

tête de course

prix de la course

abandonner la course

course de relais

सामान्य वाक्यांश

faire les courses

faire une course

être dans la course

course contre la montre

course à pied

hors course

liste de courses

c'est la course

course d'obstacles

finir la course

अक्सर इससे भ्रम होता है

course vs cours (academic class)

course vs cour (courtyard/court)

course vs court (short)

मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ

"course contre la montre"

"être dans la course"

"mettre hors course"

"course à l'échalote"

"course aux armements"

"c'est la course"

"course à l'abîme"

"course de fond"

"reprendre la course"

"course folle"

आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले

course vs

वाक्य संरचनाएँ

सभी उदाहरण देखने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

इसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें

prepositions

Use 'à' for the type of race (course à pied), 'de' for the vehicle/animal (course de chevaux, course de vélos).

singular vs plural

Singular = one race, one errand, one taxi ride. Plural = grocery shopping, multiple races.

सामान्य गलतियाँ

Translating 'academic course' as 'une course' instead of 'un cours'.
Using 'faire les courses' when meaning 'to go clothes shopping' (faire du shopping).
Translating 'of course' literally as 'de course' instead of 'bien sûr'.
Confusing 'une course' (one errand) with 'les courses' (grocery shopping).
Misspelling 'cours' (class) as 'course' in written French.

सुझाव

Watch the Gender

Always remember that 'course' is feminine ('la course', 'une course'). This helps distinguish it from 'le cours' (the class), which is masculine. Getting the gender right prevents major misunderstandings.

Groceries vs Shopping

Lock this into your memory: 'les courses' = supermarket/food. 'Le shopping' = mall/clothes. Never invite a friend to 'faire les courses' if you want to go look at shoes!

Race Against Time

Use 'une course contre la montre' to sound like a native. It's perfect for describing stressful days at work or school when a deadline is approaching rapidly.

The French 'R'

The 'r' in 'course' is guttural. Practice saying /kuʁs/ without rolling the 'r'. It should sound like a soft clearing of the throat in the middle of the word.

Taxi Fares

If you are traveling in a French-speaking city, knowing that 'la course' means the taxi fare is essential. It will help you understand the meter and communicate with the driver.

Course à pied

If you are a runner, don't just say 'j'aime la course' (which could mean racing in general). Say 'j'aime la course à pied' to specify that you enjoy the sport of running.

C'est la course !

Drop 'C'est la course !' into conversation when you are having a busy, stressful day. It's a very natural, everyday phrase that French people use constantly.

No 'Of Course'

Erase 'de course' from your brain. Whenever you want to agree and say 'of course', force yourself to say 'bien sûr'. This is a mandatory correction for English speakers.

Spelling Matters

When writing, double-check the final 'e'. 'Cours' (class) has no 'e' but has an 's'. 'Course' (race) has an 'e'. A single letter changes the entire meaning of your sentence.

Specific Races

You can combine 'course' with 'de' to describe any type of race. 'Course de chevaux' (horse race), 'course de lévriers' (greyhound race), 'course de natation' (swimming race).

याद करें

स्मृति सहायक

Imagine running a RACE (course) through the supermarket aisles to get your GROCERIES (les courses) before it closes.

शब्द की उत्पत्ति

Latin

सांस्कृतिक संदर्भ

France hosts the most famous cycling race in the world, 'Le Tour de France', often simply referred to as 'La Grande Boucle' or 'la course' during the summer.

The phrase 'faire les courses' is strictly utilitarian. If a French person wants to buy clothes for fun, they use the English loanword 'faire du shopping'.

असल ज़िंदगी में अभ्यास करें

वास्तविक संदर्भ

बातचीत की शुरुआत

"Tu préfères faire les courses au supermarché ou au marché ?"

"As-tu déjà participé à une course à pied ?"

"Qui fait les courses chez toi en général ?"

"Combien coûte une course en taxi dans ta ville ?"

"Regardes-tu les courses de Formule 1 ?"

डायरी विषय

Décris ta routine pour faire les courses.

Raconte une fois où tu as participé à une course ou une compétition.

Pourquoi la course à pied est-elle si populaire aujourd'hui ?

Écris sur une 'course contre la montre' que tu as vécue au travail ou à l'école.

Quelle est la différence entre 'faire les courses' et 'faire du shopping' pour toi ?

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

This is the most common point of confusion. 'Une course' (feminine, ends in 'e') means a race, an errand, or grocery shopping. 'Un cours' (masculine, ends in 's' even in singular) means an academic class or a lesson. If you are going to school, you go to 'un cours'. If you are going to the supermarket, you do 'les courses'.

No, 'faire les courses' almost exclusively refers to buying groceries, food, and basic household necessities. It is considered a chore. If you are going out to buy clothes, shoes, or items for pleasure, the correct term in French is 'faire du shopping' or 'faire les magasins'.

Yes, in the context of transportation, 'une course' refers to a specific journey taken in a taxi or a ride-sharing vehicle. It also refers to the fare or the price of that journey. You can ask a driver, 'Combien coûte la course ?' (How much is the fare?).

The specific term for the sport of running or jogging is 'la course à pied'. If you want to say 'I go running', you would say 'Je fais de la course à pied' or simply use the verb 'Je cours'. 'Un footing' is also used for a casual jog.

This is a very common idiom that translates literally to 'a race against the watch'. It means 'a race against time'. It is used exactly as it is in English, to describe a situation where you must finish a task quickly before a deadline expires.

'C'est la course' is a colloquial expression used to describe a very busy, hectic, or rushed situation. If someone is running late and trying to get everything done in the morning, they might say 'C'est la course ce matin !' to mean 'It's a mad dash this morning!'

Yes, 'course' is frequently used metaphorically in business and politics to describe intense competition. For example, 'la course aux profits' (the race for profits) or 'la course à la présidence' (the presidential race). It implies a competitive struggle to reach a goal first.

A 'course-poursuite' is a compound noun that means a high-speed chase. You will hear this term very often in the news when describing a police chase, or in reviews of action movies describing a car chase scene.

Absolutely not. This is a classic false friend mistake. The English phrase 'of course' translates to 'bien sûr' or 'évidemment' in French. Saying 'de course' makes no sense in French and will confuse the person you are speaking to.

'Une course' (singular) usually refers to a single, specific errand, like going to the post office or the bank. 'Des courses' (plural indefinite) means some errands. However, 'les courses' (plural definite) is the fixed expression for grocery shopping.

सुझाव और नोट्स के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें