Meaning
To confront and deal with a challenging situation.
Cultural Background
The French value 'le sang-froid' (cool-headedness). 'Faire face' is often associated with remaining calm and analytical during a crisis. In Quebec, you might also hear 'faire front', which emphasizes the collective resistance of a community against an obstacle. In many African French-speaking countries, 'faire face' can be used in the context of family solidarity, where the whole family 'fait face' to a financial burden. In French business culture, 'faire face' is a key competency in leadership evaluations, often linked to 'la gestion de crise'.
Use with Adverbs
Enhance the phrase with adverbs like 'efficacement' (effectively) or 'seul' (alone) to sound more natural.
No 'The'
Never say 'faire la face'. It's a fixed expression without the article.
Meaning
To confront and deal with a challenging situation.
Use with Adverbs
Enhance the phrase with adverbs like 'efficacement' (effectively) or 'seul' (alone) to sound more natural.
No 'The'
Never say 'faire la face'. It's a fixed expression without the article.
Passive Voice
In formal writing, use 'être appelé à faire face à' (to be called upon to face) for a very professional tone.
Stoicism
Using this phrase suggests you are not complaining, which is highly valued in French professional circles.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing parts of the phrase.
Malgré la crise, nous devons ______ face ______ cette situation.
The standard phrase is 'faire face à'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct option:
'À + le' must contract to 'au', and no article is used before 'face'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of 'faire face'.
A: Comment l'entreprise a-t-elle survécu ? B: Elle ______ à la concurrence en innovant.
The question is in the past (passé composé), so the answer should match.
Match the situation to the best use of the phrase.
Which situation best fits 'faire face à une difficulté'?
The phrase is used for significant, non-trivial challenges.
Match the French phrase with its English equivalent.
Match them up:
These are all common collocations using 'faire face à'.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Register Differences
Practice Bank
5 exercisesMalgré la crise, nous devons ______ face ______ cette situation.
The standard phrase is 'faire face à'.
Choose the correct option:
'À + le' must contract to 'au', and no article is used before 'face'.
A: Comment l'entreprise a-t-elle survécu ? B: Elle ______ à la concurrence en innovant.
The question is in the past (passé composé), so the answer should match.
Which situation best fits 'faire face à une difficulté'?
The phrase is used for significant, non-trivial challenges.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all common collocations using 'faire face à'.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsYes, but it implies a confrontation or meeting them head-on, often in a formal or competitive context.
It is always 'faire face à'.
'Affronter' is more direct and aggressive; 'faire face' is more about resilience and management.
Yes, 'J'ai fait face à' is very common.
No, but it sounds serious. Use it for serious problems, not for losing your socks.
No, 'face' remains singular in this expression.
Yes, 'à + les' becomes 'aux'.
You can use 'gérer' (to manage) or 'assurer' (to handle it).
Je ne peux pas faire face à cette situation.
Constantly. It's a key professional phrase.
'Fuir' (to flee) or 'éviter' (to avoid).
Yes, 'La maison fait face à la mer' (The house faces the sea).
It's a verbal locution (a group of words acting as a verb).
Because using it correctly with the right nuances and prepositions marks an advanced level of fluency.
Related Phrases
Affronter un défi
synonymTo tackle a challenge
Faire front
similarTo stand together
Se heurter à un obstacle
builds onTo hit an obstacle
Relever le défi
specialized formTo take up the challenge
Braver le danger
similarTo brave the danger
