Meaning
According to the will, desire, or fancy of someone or something.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'au gré de' is central to the French literary movement of Romanticism, where nature is seen as having its own soul and will. In Quebec, the phrase is used similarly but can sometimes be found in more administrative contexts regarding the 'gré à gré' (mutual agreement) contracts. For sailors, 'au gré de' is not just a phrase but a reality of life before modern engines, representing a deep respect for the power of the sea. Existentialist thinkers might use the phrase to discuss the tension between human freedom and the 'whims' of existence.
Use it in Writing
In the DELF/DALF exams, using 'au gré de' instead of 'selon' will immediately signal to the examiner that you have a C1 level vocabulary.
Avoid Personal Pronouns
Never say 'au gré de lui'. Always use 'à son gré'.
Meaning
According to the will, desire, or fancy of someone or something.
Use it in Writing
In the DELF/DALF exams, using 'au gré de' instead of 'selon' will immediately signal to the examiner that you have a C1 level vocabulary.
Avoid Personal Pronouns
Never say 'au gré de lui'. Always use 'à son gré'.
Poetic Nature
Use it when describing the wind, the sea, or the clouds to sound more like a native French writer.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'au gré de'.
Le petit voilier dérivait sans but _______ vagues.
We use 'au gré des' because 'vagues' is plural.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a formal context?
Select the best option:
This is a perfect professional use of the phrase to describe adaptation to external factors.
Match the French expression with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
All pairs are correctly matched in the description.
Fill in the missing line in this dialogue.
A: Tu as un itinéraire précis pour ton voyage en Italie ? B: Non, pas vraiment. Je vais voyager ________________.
This is the most natural way to express spontaneous travel.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLe petit voilier dérivait sans but _______ vagues.
We use 'au gré des' because 'vagues' is plural.
Select the best option:
This is a perfect professional use of the phrase to describe adaptation to external factors.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All pairs are correctly matched in the description.
A: Tu as un itinéraire précis pour ton voyage en Italie ? B: Non, pas vraiment. Je vais voyager ________________.
This is the most natural way to express spontaneous travel.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is formal and literary. In daily speech, people use 'selon' or 'comme'.
Yes, but it often implies their whims or moods. 'Au gré de ses humeurs'.
'Au gré de' implies a whim or influence, while 'au fil de' implies a progression through time.
Yes, because 'gré' is masculine. It's 'à + le gré'.
No, that sounds strange. Laws are not 'whims'. Use 'selon la loi'.
It means 'whether you like it or not'.
No, 'gré' stays singular. Only the article 'des' changes if the following noun is plural.
Yes, it's very professional when describing adaptation to market needs.
No, it is followed by a noun, not a verb clause.
Yes, it is standard French used across the Francophonie.
Related Phrases
au fil de
similarover the course of
à la merci de
similarat the mercy of
selon
synonymaccording to
bon gré mal gré
builds onwilly-nilly / whether one likes it or not
de gré à gré
specialized formby mutual agreement
