Meaning
To cherish a desire or expectation for something to happen.
Cultural Background
In French political rhetoric, 'nourrir l'espoir' is used to create a sense of shared destiny. It's a 'noble' way to talk about the future. In Quebec, the phrase is equally formal but sometimes replaced by 'garder espoir' in everyday speech to avoid sounding too 'Parisian' or 'bookish'. In many African French-speaking countries, the language is often more formal and metaphorical. 'Nourrir un espoir' is very common in newspapers and radio broadcasts. The phrase is a staple of 19th-century Romanticism, where hope was often personified as something that could be fed or starved.
Use with Adjectives
Make it more natural by adding adjectives like 'secret', 'vain', 'fou', or 'immense'.
Don't Overuse
It's a strong phrase. If you use it three times in one essay, it loses its power. Save it for your most important point.
Meaning
To cherish a desire or expectation for something to happen.
Use with Adjectives
Make it more natural by adding adjectives like 'secret', 'vain', 'fou', or 'immense'.
Don't Overuse
It's a strong phrase. If you use it three times in one essay, it loses its power. Save it for your most important point.
The 'Vain' Hope
French people often use 'nourrir un vain espoir' to express a cynical but realistic view of a situation.
Test Yourself
Conjugate the verb 'nourrir' in the present tense.
Nous ________ l'espoir de vous revoir bientôt.
The subject is 'nous', and 'nourrir' is a second-group verb, so it takes the -issons ending.
Which adjective best fits a hope that is very unlikely to come true?
Il nourrit un espoir ________.
'Un espoir fou' (a crazy hope) is a common collocation for unrealistic dreams.
Complete the response using the phrase 'nourrir l'espoir'.
A: Penses-tu qu'ils vont faire la paix ? B: Oui, je ________ que les discussions aboutissent.
'Nourrir l'espoir' is the correct idiomatic expression.
Match the sentence to the context.
1. 'Je nourris l'espoir de réussir mon doctorat.' 2. 'Le peuple nourrit l'espoir d'une révolution.'
The first sentence is about personal ambition, the second about a collective movement.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesNous ________ l'espoir de vous revoir bientôt.
The subject is 'nous', and 'nourrir' is a second-group verb, so it takes the -issons ending.
Il nourrit un espoir ________.
'Un espoir fou' (a crazy hope) is a common collocation for unrealistic dreams.
A: Penses-tu qu'ils vont faire la paix ? B: Oui, je ________ que les discussions aboutissent.
'Nourrir l'espoir' is the correct idiomatic expression.
1. 'Je nourris l'espoir de réussir mon doctorat.' 2. 'Le peuple nourrit l'espoir d'une révolution.'
The first sentence is about personal ambition, the second about a collective movement.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot exactly. 'Espérer' is the simple verb 'to hope'. 'Nourrir un espoir' implies a long-term, active process of keeping that hope alive. It's much more formal.
No, 'espoir' is always positive. For negative things, you would say 'nourrir une crainte' (to harbor a fear) or 'nourrir une rancune' (to harbor a grudge).
Yes, usually. 'Je nourris l'espoir que tu *sois* là.' However, in some formal writing, the indicative is used if the person is certain.
It's rare in casual speech. You'll hear it in news reports, documentaries, or deep philosophical conversations.
Des espoirs. 'Ils nourrissent des espoirs de grandeur.'
Yes, it's a valid synonym, but 'nourrir' is more common for internal feelings.
Both are correct. 'Un' is for 'a hope' (one of many), 'l'espoir' is for 'the hope' (a specific one).
Nourrir de faux espoirs.
No, it's just formal. It's still used every day in high-quality journalism like 'Le Monde'.
Yes, especially when expressing a desire for future collaboration.
Related Phrases
Caresser un rêve
similarTo cherish a dream
Entretenir une flamme
similarTo keep a flame alive
Perdre espoir
contrastTo lose hope
Donner de l'espoir
builds onTo give hope to someone
S'accrocher à un espoir
similarTo cling to a hope
