In 15 Seconds
- Means taking or ending lives in a serious context.
- Highly formal and emotionally heavy expression.
- Common in news, history, and literature.
Meaning
This phrase refers to the act of killing someone or taking a life, often used in serious discussions or storytelling.
Key Examples
3 of 6Discussing a natural disaster
Le séisme a pris des vies innocentes.
The earthquake took innocent lives.
A historical documentary
Cette guerre a pris des vies pendant dix ans.
This war took lives for ten years.
Reporting on a dangerous virus
La maladie continue de prendre des vies chaque jour.
The disease continues to take lives every day.
Cultural Background
In French news (like TF1 or France 2), journalists use 'prendre des vies' to maintain a neutral, respectful tone during tragedies. It is part of the 'langue de bois' (officialese) but also reflects a cultural respect for the deceased. In Quebec, the phrase is also common, but you might hear 'faire des victimes' (to make victims) more frequently in local news reporting than in France. In countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, formal French is used in administration and news. 'Prendre des vies' is used in official statements regarding security or health. Belgian French follows the same formal standards as France for this phrase, especially in reports concerning European Union security or international conflicts.
Context is King
Only use this phrase for serious topics. Using it for a broken phone or a dead plant sounds like a joke.
The Silent S
Remember that 'vies' is plural in writing, even if you don't hear the 's' when speaking.
In 15 Seconds
- Means taking or ending lives in a serious context.
- Highly formal and emotionally heavy expression.
- Common in news, history, and literature.
What It Means
Prendre des vies is a heavy expression. It means to end lives. You will hear it in news reports. You will see it in history books. It is not a casual phrase. It carries weight and gravity. It describes the loss of human life.
How To Use It
You use the verb prendre. You conjugate it like any regular -re verb. For example, la guerre prend des vies. It usually follows a subject that causes the loss. This could be a natural disaster or a conflict. Keep it simple and direct. The impact comes from the meaning, not fancy grammar.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing serious global events. It fits well in a documentary setting. You might use it in a somber conversation about health. It is appropriate for formal writing. Use it when you want to sound empathetic yet factual. It works when discussing the consequences of an action.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this in a lighthearted way. Do not use it for video games. For gaming, use tuer or éliminer. Avoid it in casual jokes. It will make the room go silent. It is too heavy for a dinner party. Unless you are discussing a tragic news story.
Cultural Background
French culture values the weight of words. Prendre (to take) sounds more poetic than tuer (to kill). It suggests that life is something stolen. It is often used in French literature. It reflects a philosophical view of mortality. It has been used by poets and journalists for centuries.
Common Variations
You might hear ôter la vie. This is even more formal. You might see faucher des vies. This means 'to mow down lives'. It is very descriptive and tragic. Perdre la vie is the passive version. That means 'to lose one's life'. Choose the one that fits your emotional tone.
Usage Notes
This is a high-register expression. Use it when you want to convey gravity, respect, or a sense of tragedy. Avoid it in casual or lighthearted settings.
Context is King
Only use this phrase for serious topics. Using it for a broken phone or a dead plant sounds like a joke.
The Silent S
Remember that 'vies' is plural in writing, even if you don't hear the 's' when speaking.
Journalistic Style
If you are writing a formal essay in French, use 'prendre des vies' to sound more native and sophisticated than just using 'tuer'.
Gaming Exception
If you're playing Mario or Zelda, 'prendre des vies' is perfectly normal and not sad at all!
Examples
6Le séisme a pris des vies innocentes.
The earthquake took innocent lives.
Uses the phrase to describe the impact of a disaster.
Cette guerre a pris des vies pendant dix ans.
This war took lives for ten years.
Standard historical usage.
La maladie continue de prendre des vies chaque jour.
The disease continues to take lives every day.
Used in a medical or news context.
Nous ne voulons plus que la violence prenne des vies.
We no longer want violence to take lives.
Expressing a desire for peace.
La mer peut être cruelle et prendre des vies.
The sea can be cruel and take lives.
Personifying nature as the taker of life.
L'imprudence sur la route prend trop de vies.
Recklessness on the road takes too many lives.
A somber warning for public safety.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'prendre des vies'.
La tempête de neige a ________ hier soir dans les montagnes.
We need the passé composé 'a pris' to describe a completed action in the past.
Which sentence means 'The war is taking lives'?
Choose the correct translation:
'Prendre vie' means to come to life, and 'donner des vies' means to give lives.
Match the French phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the four main 'vie' collocations.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
Journaliste: 'Le virus est dangereux.' Citoyen: 'Oui, il continue de ________ chaque jour.'
In a formal context about a virus, 'prendre des vies' is the most natural plural form.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Prendre Vie vs Prendre des Vies
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLa tempête de neige a ________ hier soir dans les montagnes.
We need the passé composé 'a pris' to describe a completed action in the past.
Choose the correct translation:
'Prendre vie' means to come to life, and 'donner des vies' means to give lives.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the four main 'vie' collocations.
Journaliste: 'Le virus est dangereux.' Citoyen: 'Oui, il continue de ________ chaque jour.'
In a formal context about a virus, 'prendre des vies' is the most natural plural form.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, but it is much more formal and abstract. 'Tuer' is the direct action, while 'prendre des vies' is often used for events or causes.
Usually, you would say 'prendre la vie à quelqu'un' or 'ôter la vie à quelqu'un' for a single person.
Because it usually refers to a collective loss, like in a war or a disaster.
Yes, especially in action or war movies during serious dialogues.
Yes, this is a very common way to personify nature in the news.
No, it is actually a very respectful and somber way to talk about death.
The opposite is 'sauver des vies' (to save lives).
Rarely. It's mostly for media, books, and games.
Use 'a pris des vies'. Example: 'L'accident a pris des vies.'
Yes, in a documentary context, but 'tuer' is more common for hunting.
Similar expressions appear in French translations to describe divine or mortal actions.
Yes, they sound identical in speech. You must use context to know if someone is dying or coming to life!
Related Phrases
ôter la vie
synonymTo take life (very formal)
sauver des vies
contrastTo save lives
perdre la vie
similarTo lose one's life
donner la vie
contrastTo give life / give birth
coûter des vies
builds onTo cost lives
faucher des vies
specialized formTo mow down lives
