Meaning
To offer suggestions or guidance to someone.
Cultural Background
In France, giving advice is often seen as a way to engage in intellectual exchange. It is common for strangers to offer advice on things like how to carry a baby or which cheese to buy at the market. In Quebec, the phrase is the same, but the tone might be slightly more direct and informal than in metropolitan France, reflecting a North American influence on social proximity. In Francophone West Africa, 'donner un conseil' often carries a weight of elder wisdom. Advice from an older person is highly respected and often follows a formal greeting. In Swiss French, precision is valued. Giving a 'conseil' might be followed by very specific, practical steps, reflecting a cultural emphasis on efficiency and order.
Count your advice
Remember that you can have 'un conseil' or 'deux conseils'. Unlike English, it's not an abstract mass noun.
Avoid 'Faire'
Never say 'faire un conseil'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from another language.
Meaning
To offer suggestions or guidance to someone.
Count your advice
Remember that you can have 'un conseil' or 'deux conseils'. Unlike English, it's not an abstract mass noun.
Avoid 'Faire'
Never say 'faire un conseil'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from another language.
The 'D'ami' trick
Add 'd'ami' (un conseil d'ami) to make your advice sound warmer and less like you're bossing someone around.
Wait for the pause
In France, it's often polite to ask 'Je peux vous donner un conseil ?' before jumping in, especially with superiors.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb to complete the phrase.
Je veux vous ____ un conseil pour votre examen.
In French, we 'give' (donner) advice, we don't 'make' or 'say' it.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct option:
'Conseil' is the correct noun, and it must agree with the article 'un'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the phrase.
A: J'ai froid. B: Je vais te ____ : mets un manteau !
This is the most natural way to offer a simple tip in a casual conversation.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
Situation: A professional meeting where you want to be polite.
'Je me permets' adds a layer of formal politeness suitable for a meeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Advice
Formal
- • Recommandation
- • Expertise
Informal
- • Tuyau
- • Astuce
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJe veux vous ____ un conseil pour votre examen.
In French, we 'give' (donner) advice, we don't 'make' or 'say' it.
Choose the correct option:
'Conseil' is the correct noun, and it must agree with the article 'un'.
A: J'ai froid. B: Je vais te ____ : mets un manteau !
This is the most natural way to offer a simple tip in a casual conversation.
Situation: A professional meeting where you want to be polite.
'Je me permets' adds a layer of formal politeness suitable for a meeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is masculine: un conseil, le conseil.
Yes! Use 'des conseils' when you are giving more than one piece of advice.
A 'conseil' is usually based on experience or authority, while a 'suggestion' is more of an idea to consider.
You say 'J'ai besoin d'un conseil.'
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Yes, 'offrir un conseil' is slightly more formal and sounds very kind.
You can, but that's just giving facts. 'Donner un conseil' implies you are helping someone decide what to do.
Yes, 'filer un tuyau' is the most common slang for giving a tip.
You say 'Ne me donne pas de conseils.'
Yes, like 'le conseil municipal' (city council), but in this phrase, it always means 'advice'.
Related Phrases
Conseiller
specialized formTo advise (verb)
Une suggestion
similarA suggestion
Un avertissement
contrastA warning
Filer un tuyau
synonymTo give a tip (slang)
Un conseil d'ami
builds onA friend's advice
