Meaning
Indicates a smaller quantity or degree.
Cultural Background
The French often use 'moins' to be polite. Instead of saying a meal is 'mauvais' (bad), they might say it is 'moins bon que d'habitude' (less good than usual). In Quebec, you might hear the final 's' in 'moins' pronounced more often, especially in the phrase 'plus ou moins' (more or less). In French-speaking Switzerland, telling time with 'moins' follows the same rules as France, but they are very precise with their 'moins cinq' (five to).
The 'De' Rule
Always remember: Moins + Noun = Moins DE Noun. It's the most common mistake for beginners!
Meaning
Indicates a smaller quantity or degree.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember: Moins + Noun = Moins DE Noun. It's the most common mistake for beginners!
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with 'moins de' or 'moins que'.
Il y a ____ neige cette année.
We use 'moins de' because 'neige' (snow) is a noun.
Choose the correct way to say 10 - 4 = 6.
Comment dit-on 10 - 4 = 6 ?
In math, we use 'moins' directly between numbers.
Match the time to the French phrase.
6:45
6:45 is 'a quarter to seven' in French.
Complete the comparison.
Marie est ____ grande ____ sa sœur.
For adjective comparisons, use 'moins... que'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Moins vs Plus
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIl y a ____ neige cette année.
We use 'moins de' because 'neige' (snow) is a noun.
Comment dit-on 10 - 4 = 6 ?
In math, we use 'moins' directly between numbers.
6:45
6:45 is 'a quarter to seven' in French.
Marie est ____ grande ____ sa sœur.
For adjective comparisons, use 'moins... que'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsGenerally, the 's' is silent. However, you pronounce it as /z/ in a liaison (before a vowel) or sometimes as /s/ in the south of France or in very specific mathematical contexts.
It is almost always 'moins de'. You only use 'moins des' if you are referring to a specific group of things already mentioned.
Related Phrases
Au moins
similarAt least
De moins en moins
builds onLess and less
À moins que
specialized formUnless
