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tolérance

A2 noun 12 min read

tolérance

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips tolérance in 30 Seconds

Explanation tolérance in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'tolérance' is a word you might recognize because it looks like English. You should know it is a feminine noun ('la tolérance'). You can use it in very simple sentences like 'La tolérance est importante' (Tolerance is important). At this stage, focus on the basic idea of being nice to others and following rules. You might hear it in school or in simple news stories. It is a 'big' word for a beginner, but because it is a cognate, it is easy to remember. Just remember to pronounce it the French way: toh-lay-rahns, with a soft 'n' at the end. You don't need to know the technical or medical meanings yet; just the social one about being kind and patient with people who are different.

At the A2 level, you should be able to use 'tolérance' with common verbs like 'faire preuve de' (to show/demonstrate). You can start to describe people or situations using the adjective 'tolérant' (masculine) or 'tolérante' (feminine). For example, 'Mon ami est très tolérant' (My friend is very tolerant). You should also learn the opposite word, 'intolérance.' You can use the word to talk about social rules or classroom behavior. You might see it on posters or in short articles about living together in France. This is a good time to learn that 'tolérance' is used for things you might not like but you allow anyway. It is a key word for discussing 'la vie en société' (life in society).

At the B1 level, you can use 'tolérance' in more complex discussions about society and opinions. You should understand the difference between 'la tolérance envers les gens' (tolerance toward people) and 'le seuil de tolérance' (the tolerance threshold). You can start using it in debates, for example, 'Je pense que la tolérance est la base de la démocratie.' You should be comfortable using the word in professional contexts, like talking about 'une tolérance de retard' (a tolerance for being late). You can also use the verb 'tolérer' in various tenses. You are now moving beyond just 'being nice' to understanding tolerance as a civic duty and a technical measurement. You can read short opinion pieces that use this word frequently.

At the B2 level, you should understand the historical and philosophical weight of 'tolérance' in France. You can discuss Voltaire's 'Traité sur la tolérance' and how it relates to modern 'laïcité.' You should be able to use the word in formal essays, pairing it with sophisticated verbs like 'prôner' (to advocate) or 'manquer de' (to lack). You understand the nuances between 'tolérance,' 'indulgence,' and 'acceptation.' You can follow a political debate on television where the limits of tolerance are being argued. You also know the technical uses in science or engineering without confusion. Your use of prepositions ('envers' vs 'à') should be mostly accurate. You can express complex ideas about where tolerance ends and where 'l'intolérable' begins.

At the C1 level, you use 'tolérance' with precision and stylistic flair. You can analyze the 'paradoxe de la tolérance' (the paradox of tolerance) in a high-level academic or social discussion. You are aware of the subtle registers of the word, from its use in legal texts to its role in literary works. You can use phrases like 'marge de tolérance' in complex business negotiations or scientific reports with total confidence. You understand how the word functions in different domains: medical, technical, social, and political. You can write a detailed critique of how 'tolérance' is used in public discourse. Your vocabulary around this concept is rich, including synonyms like 'clémence' or 'longanimité' and antonyms like 'sectarisme' or 'fanatisme.'

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'tolérance.' You understand the word's evolution from the 16th-century religious wars to today's secular debates. You can use the word in puns, metaphors, or highly formal rhetoric. You can navigate the most sensitive cultural nuances, understanding exactly when the word might sound condescending or when it is being used as a shield in political arguments. You can interpret the 'tolérances' in a complex engineering blueprint or a pharmacological study as easily as you can discuss its role in a 17th-century play by Molière. The word is no longer just a vocabulary item but a tool you use to navigate the deepest layers of French thought, culture, and science.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

tolérance in 30 Seconds

Tolérance is a feminine noun meaning tolerance or acceptance of differences in opinions, beliefs, or behaviors within a society or individual context.
It is a key French republican value, often associated with secularism and Enlightenment philosophy, particularly the works of Voltaire and the Lumières.
Commonly used in phrases like 'faire preuve de tolérance' or 'tolérance zéro', it also has technical meanings in medicine and engineering.
Grammatically, it requires the feminine article 'la' and often takes the preposition 'envers' when referring to people or 'à' for physical thresholds.

The French word tolérance is a cornerstone of French republican values and philosophical discourse. While its English cognate 'tolerance' shares the same Latin root, the French application often carries a deeper weight related to the history of secularism (laïcité) and the Enlightenment. At its core, it refers to the capacity to accept or permit practices, beliefs, or behaviors that one might personally dislike or disagree with. It is not merely a passive state of ignoring others but an active civic virtue that facilitates living together in a diverse society. In modern French life, you will encounter this word in political debates regarding religious freedom, in social discussions about immigration, and in educational settings where children are taught the 'valeurs de la République.' It is a noun that demands action; one does not just 'have' tolerance, one 'exercises' or 'shows' it.

Social Context: The respect for the rights and opinions of others, especially when they differ from your own cultural or religious background.

La tolérance est la vertu qui rend la paix possible dans une société diverse.

Historically, the concept was popularized by thinkers like Voltaire, whose 'Traité sur la tolérance' (1763) remains a foundational text. He argued that human beings are too fallible to be certain enough to persecute others for their beliefs. This historical baggage means that when a French speaker uses the word, they might be invoking centuries of intellectual struggle against dogma. Beyond the social and philosophical, the word also exists in technical domains. In medicine, it refers to the body's ability to withstand a substance (drug tolerance). In engineering, it refers to the allowable deviation from a standard measurement. This versatility makes it a high-frequency word across many registers of the French language.

Medical Context: The capacity of an organism to endure the effects of a drug or environmental condition without ill effects.

Le patient a développé une forte tolérance aux médicaments antidouleurs.

In everyday conversation, you might hear the phrase 'tolérance zéro' (zero tolerance). This is often used by authorities or in school settings to indicate that certain behaviors, like bullying or law-breaking, will not be overlooked at all. It is a borrowing from English policy terminology but has become firmly embedded in French administrative language. Understanding 'tolérance' requires recognizing that it sits between 'indifférence' (which is passive) and 'acceptation' (which is active approval). It is the middle ground where we agree to disagree for the sake of social cohesion. When you use this word, you are speaking about the glue that holds a secular republic together.

Technical Context: The permissible limit of variation in a physical dimension or a measured value.

Les pièces de précision nécessitent une tolérance de moins d'un millimètre.

Il faut enseigner la tolérance dès le plus jeune âge à l'école.

La tolérance religieuse est un principe fondamental de notre pays.

Using the word tolérance correctly involves understanding the verbs it typically pairs with. In French, you don't just 'have' tolerance; you 'make proof of' it (*faire preuve de*) or you 'show' it (*montrer*). This distinction is vital for sounding natural. For example, 'Il fait preuve de beaucoup de tolérance' is more common than 'Il a beaucoup de tolérance.' This construction highlights that tolerance is an active choice or a character trait being demonstrated in a specific situation. When discussing social issues, you might use verbs like *prôner* (to advocate for) or *promouvoir* (to promote). These are high-level verbs used in essays and formal speeches.

Common Verb Pairings: Faire preuve de (to demonstrate), Prôner (to advocate), Manquer de (to lack), Dépasser le seuil de (to exceed the threshold of).

Le professeur doit faire preuve de tolérance face aux erreurs des élèves.

In a grammatical sense, 'tolérance' is a noun that often takes a prepositional complement to specify what is being tolerated. We use 'envers' (towards) or 'pour' (for) to indicate the object of tolerance. For instance, 'la tolérance envers les minorités' (tolerance towards minorities). If you are talking about a lack of tolerance, the word becomes 'intolérance,' which is its direct antonym. When constructing sentences about the limits of acceptance, you might say 'ma tolérance a des limites' (my tolerance has limits), a common idiomatic way to say you are losing patience. This demonstrates how the word slides between a grand philosophical concept and a personal measure of patience.

Nous prônons une tolérance mutuelle entre toutes les cultures.

In medical or scientific contexts, the structure changes slightly. You might speak of 'le seuil de tolérance' (the tolerance threshold). This refers to the point beyond which an organism or system can no longer handle a stimulus. In a sentence: 'Le seuil de tolérance à la douleur varie selon les individus' (The pain tolerance threshold varies by individual). Here, 'tolérance' is followed by 'à' (to). This technical usage is very common in health and engineering reports. Notice how the preposition changes depending on whether the tolerance is social (envers) or physical (à). This subtle shift is a key marker of advanced French proficiency.

Preposition Usage: Use 'envers' for people/opinions; use 'à' for physical substances or conditions.

Il y a une tolérance de 5% sur le poids total des marchandises.

Sa tolérance face à l'injustice est admirable.

Le règlement impose une tolérance zéro pour le retard.

If you turn on a French news channel like BFMTV or France 24, you are almost certain to hear tolérance within an hour. It is a staple of political rhetoric. Politicians across the spectrum use it to define the boundaries of French society. You will hear it in the context of 'laïcité' (secularism), where it is argued that the state must show tolerance toward all religions while remaining neutral. In this arena, the word is often linked to 'respect' and 'vivre-ensemble' (living together). It is a 'noble' word, often used to appeal to the higher values of the audience during election cycles or after national tragedies.

In the News: Often heard in debates about social integration, religious symbols, and freedom of speech.

Le ministre a rappelé l'importance de la tolérance au sein de l'école républicaine.

In schools (l'école), 'tolérance' is part of the curriculum. Students are taught 'l'enseignement moral et civique' (EMC), where tolerance is presented as a fundamental duty of every citizen. Teachers use the word to resolve conflicts between students, asking them to show tolerance for their classmates' differences. You will see posters on school walls promoting 'La Journée Internationale de la Tolérance' (November 16th). In this environment, the word is used to build empathy and reduce bullying. It is one of the first abstract social concepts French children learn to define and apply in their daily interactions.

À l'école, nous apprenons que la tolérance est la clé du respect mutuel.

In the workplace and professional settings, 'tolérance' appears in HR policies and technical specifications. You might hear a manager say, 'Nous avons une certaine tolérance pour le télétravail' (We have a certain tolerance/flexibility for remote work), though 'flexibilité' is often preferred. More commonly, in manufacturing or construction, workers discuss 'les tolérances de fabrication.' If a part is slightly off, they check if it falls within the 'marge de tolérance.' This ensures that despite minor variations, the final product functions correctly. Hearing the word in a workshop vs. a philosophy classroom shows the incredible range of this noun in the French language.

In Industry: Refers to the margin of error or the allowed variation in technical measurements.

Vérifiez les tolérances du moteur avant de valider le plan.

La tolérance administrative permet parfois des délais de paiement.

Il n'y a aucune tolérance pour la violence dans ce stade.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with tolérance is assuming it can always be used as a verb in the same way. While 'to tolerate' is 'tolérer,' the noun 'tolérance' is often used in French where English might use 'patience' or 'flexibility.' For example, if a boss is being lenient about a deadline, an English speaker might say 'He is showing tolerance.' In French, while 'Il fait preuve de tolérance' is correct, it sounds very formal. In a casual office setting, a French person might say 'Il est souple' (He is flexible) or 'Il est indulgent.' Using 'tolérance' in low-stakes personal situations can sometimes sound overly dramatic or clinical.

Mistake: Overuse: Using 'tolérance' for minor personal patience instead of 'patience' or 'indulgence'.

Incorrect: J'ai beaucoup de tolérance pour le bruit. Better: Je suis patient avec le bruit.

Another common error involves the preposition. As mentioned before, learners often use 'pour' exclusively because it mirrors the English 'tolerance for.' However, in social and moral contexts, French prefers 'envers.' Saying 'la tolérance pour les autres' is understandable but 'la tolérance envers les autres' is the mark of a more advanced speaker. Furthermore, do not confuse 'tolérance' with 'acceptation.' Tolerance implies a level of disagreement or dislike that is being suppressed for a greater good. Acceptance implies a more positive embrace of the thing in question. If you say you 'tolerate' your friends, it sounds like you don't actually like them very much!

Attention: Ne confondez pas tolérance (supporter malgré le désaccord) et acceptation (adhérer pleinement).

Gender errors are also frequent. Because many abstract nouns in English are neutral, learners forget that 'tolérance' is feminine. This affects the articles and any accompanying adjectives. For example, 'un tolérance' is a common mistake; it must be 'une tolérance.' Similarly, if you describe a policy as 'tolerant,' you must use 'une politique tolérante' (feminine adjective) rather than 'tolérant.' Lastly, in the medical sense, learners sometimes use 'résistance' instead of 'tolérance.' While related, 'résistance' often implies the body fighting off a disease, whereas 'tolérance' implies the body getting used to a drug so that it no longer works effectively.

Mistake: Gender: Mistaking the noun as masculine. It is 'La tolérance' (feminine).

La tolérance est nécessaire, mais elle doit être réciproque.

Une tolérance excessive peut parfois être perçue comme de la faiblesse.

L'erreur de genre 'le tolérance' est très fréquente chez les débutants.

When you want to express the idea of tolérance but with a slightly different nuance, French offers several excellent alternatives. Indulgence is a common one. While 'tolérance' is often about rights and principles, 'indulgence' is about being kind or lenient toward someone's faults or mistakes. A parent might show 'indulgence' to a child who broke a vase, whereas a state shows 'tolérance' to a minority religion. Another close word is clémence, which is more formal and often used in legal or historical contexts, such as a judge showing 'clémence' to a repentant criminal.

Tolérance vs. Indulgence: Tolérance is principled and social; Indulgence is personal and lenient toward faults.

Le juge a fait preuve de clémence envers le jeune accusé.

For more everyday situations, patience is often the better choice. If you are waiting for a slow computer, you need 'patience,' not 'tolérance.' If you are dealing with a difficult person but don't want to make it a matter of grand principle, 'patience' is the word. On the other hand, acceptation goes a step further than tolerance. To tolerate something is to allow it even if you don't like it; to accept it is to come to terms with it or even welcome it. In social justice contexts, activists often argue that 'tolérance' is not enough and that 'acceptation' or 'inclusion' should be the goal.

Son ouverture d'esprit lui permet de comprendre des points de vue variés.

In a technical or administrative sense, you might use marge (margin) or souplesse (flexibility). If a rule is not strictly enforced, you can say there is some 'souplesse' in its application. 'Marge de manœuvre' (room for maneuver) is another useful phrase when you have some space to make errors or changes. Finally, respect is the most positive alternative. While you can tolerate someone without respecting them, 'respect' implies a higher level of regard. Choosing between these words allows you to fine-tune your message and show a higher level of French mastery.

Tolérance vs. Respect: Tolérance is a minimum requirement for peace; Respect is a positive appreciation of value.

Il y a une marge d'erreur acceptable dans ces calculs statistiques.

La souplesse des horaires est un avantage majeur de ce poste.

L' indulgence du professeur a sauvé ma note finale.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word originally had a negative connotation of 'enduring a burden' before becoming a positive civic virtue during the Enlightenment.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tɔ.le.ʁɑ̃s/

US /tɔ.le.ʁɑ̃s/

Stress is evenly distributed, with a slight emphasis on the final syllable 'ance'.

Rhymes With

espérance souffrance confiance chance ordonnance vengeance naissance croissance

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it should be silent).
Pronouncing the 'n' as a hard English 'n' instead of a nasal vowel.
Using the English 'sh' sound for 'ce' (it should be a soft 's' sound).
Pronouncing 'o' like the 'o' in 'go' (it should be shorter and more open).
Making the 'r' sound like the English 'r' instead of the French gargled 'r'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize as a cognate but watch for context.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct gender and preposition usage.

Speaking 3/5

Nasal vowels can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

respect patience différent accepter valeur

Learn Next

laïcité citoyenneté solidarité liberté égalité

Advanced

longanimité clémence dogmatisme obscurantisme pluralisme

Grammar to Know

Gender of abstract nouns in -ance

La tolérance, la chance, la naissance.

Using 'envers' with people

Il est gentil envers ses amis.

Using 'faire preuve de' with abstract qualities

Elle fait preuve de courage.

Agreement of adjectives ending in -ant/-ante

Un homme tolérant, une femme tolérante.

The partitive article with abstract nouns

Il faut de la tolérance.

Examples by Level

La tolérance est une bonne chose.

Tolerance is a good thing.

Feminine noun with 'la'.

Il faut de la tolérance à l'école.

We need tolerance at school.

Partitive article 'de la' used for an abstract quality.

C'est un livre sur la tolérance.

It is a book about tolerance.

Preposition 'sur' indicates the subject.

La tolérance aide à vivre ensemble.

Tolerance helps to live together.

Verb 'aider à' followed by an infinitive.

Ma mère enseigne la tolérance.

My mother teaches tolerance.

Subject-Verb-Object structure.

Nous aimons la tolérance.

We like tolerance.

Definite article 'la' for a general concept.

La tolérance est importante pour la paix.

Tolerance is important for peace.

Adjective 'importante' agrees with feminine 'tolérance'.

Un peu de tolérance, s'il vous plaît.

A little tolerance, please.

Expression 'Un peu de' followed by the noun.

Il fait preuve de beaucoup de tolérance.

He shows a lot of tolerance.

The idiom 'faire preuve de' is common with abstract nouns.

Elle est très tolérante avec ses voisins.

She is very tolerant with her neighbors.

Adjective 'tolérante' in feminine form.

Le professeur demande de la tolérance envers les autres.

The teacher asks for tolerance towards others.

Preposition 'envers' is used for people.

L'intolérance est le contraire de la tolérance.

Intolerance is the opposite of tolerance.

Use of the antonym with 'le contraire de'.

Nous devons apprendre la tolérance religieuse.

We must learn religious tolerance.

Adjective 'religieuse' modifying the noun.

Il n'a aucune tolérance pour le mensonge.

He has no tolerance for lying.

Negative construction 'ne... aucune'.

La tolérance est une valeur républicaine.

Tolerance is a republican value.

Adjective 'républicaine' follows the noun 'valeur'.

Ils montrent de la tolérance malgré les disputes.

They show tolerance despite the arguments.

Conjunction 'malgré' followed by a noun.

Le seuil de tolérance à la douleur est différent pour chacun.

The pain tolerance threshold is different for everyone.

Technical phrase 'seuil de tolérance à'.

Il faut promouvoir la tolérance culturelle dans nos villes.

We must promote cultural tolerance in our cities.

Verb 'promouvoir' is formal.

La tolérance zéro est appliquée pour les retards au travail.

Zero tolerance is applied for being late at work.

Compound term 'tolérance zéro'.

Il a une grande tolérance aux médicaments.

He has a high tolerance for medication.

Preposition 'aux' (à + les) used for substances.

La tolérance ne signifie pas l'indifférence.

Tolerance does not mean indifference.

Logical distinction using 'ne... pas'.

Nous avons discuté de la tolérance dans le débat politique.

We discussed tolerance in the political debate.

Verb 'discuter de' requires 'de'.

Cette machine a une tolérance de deux millimètres.

This machine has a tolerance of two millimeters.

Technical use of 'tolérance' as a margin.

Faire preuve de tolérance est un signe de maturité.

Showing tolerance is a sign of maturity.

Infinitive phrase used as a subject.

Voltaire a écrit un traité célèbre sur la tolérance.

Voltaire wrote a famous treatise on tolerance.

Historical reference.

La laïcité française repose sur le principe de tolérance.

French secularism is based on the principle of tolerance.

Verb 'reposer sur' (to be based on).

Il est difficile de maintenir sa tolérance face à l'injustice.

It is difficult to maintain one's tolerance in the face of injustice.

Construction 'Il est [adj] de [inf]'.

Le gouvernement prône une tolérance mutuelle entre les communautés.

The government advocates mutual tolerance between communities.

Verb 'prôner' (to advocate).

Les tolérances de fabrication sont de plus en plus serrées.

Manufacturing tolerances are becoming tighter and tighter.

Plural 'tolérances' in a technical context.

Sa tolérance a été mise à rude épreuve ce matin.

His tolerance was put to a severe test this morning.

Idiom 'mettre à rude épreuve'.

La tolérance administrative permet certains assouplissements.

Administrative tolerance allows for certain relaxations of the rules.

Specific term 'tolérance administrative'.

Une société sans tolérance est vouée au conflit.

A society without tolerance is doomed to conflict.

Adjective phrase 'vouée au' (doomed to).

Le paradoxe de la tolérance suggère que l'on ne peut tolérer l'intolérant.

The paradox of tolerance suggests that one cannot tolerate the intolerant.

Complex philosophical sentence.

Elle a manifesté une tolérance remarquable à l'égard de ses détracteurs.

She showed remarkable tolerance toward her detractors.

Prepositional phrase 'à l'égard de'.

L'érosion de la tolérance sociale est un sujet de préoccupation majeur.

The erosion of social tolerance is a major subject of concern.

Abstract noun 'érosion' used metaphorically.

Les marges de tolérance fiscale sont strictement encadrées par la loi.

Tax tolerance margins are strictly regulated by law.

Legal/Financial register.

Il s'agit d'une tolérance de fait, non de droit.

It is a tolerance in practice, not by right.

Distinction between 'de fait' and 'de droit'.

Sa longanimité dépasse la simple tolérance habituelle.

His long-suffering patience exceeds simple usual tolerance.

Use of the rare synonym 'longanimité'.

La tolérance aux antibiotiques pose un défi majeur à la médecine moderne.

Antibiotic tolerance poses a major challenge to modern medicine.

Medical context of 'tolérance'.

L'édit de Nantes fut un jalon crucial pour la tolérance en France.

The Edict of Nantes was a crucial milestone for tolerance in France.

Historical term 'jalon' (milestone).

L'impératif de tolérance se heurte parfois aux exigences de la sécurité nationale.

The imperative of tolerance sometimes clashes with the requirements of national security.

High-level abstract subject 'L'impératif de'.

La tolérance ne saurait être une simple concession polie à l'erreur d'autrui.

Tolerance cannot be a simple polite concession to the error of others.

Use of 'ne saurait être' (cannot/should not be).

On observe une tolérance croissante aux discours de haine dans les médias.

One observes a growing tolerance for hate speech in the media.

Passive-like 'On observe'.

La finesse des tolérances mécaniques définit la qualité de l'horlogerie suisse.

The precision of mechanical tolerances defines the quality of Swiss watchmaking.

Technical plural use.

Il convient de distinguer la tolérance dogmatique de la tolérance civile.

It is necessary to distinguish dogmatic tolerance from civil tolerance.

Formal 'Il convient de'.

L'esprit de tolérance qui animait les Lumières semble s'étioler.

The spirit of tolerance that animated the Enlightenment seems to be withering.

Verb 's'étioler' (to wither/weaken).

La tolérance est le rempart ultime contre le fanatisme aveugle.

Tolerance is the ultimate rampart against blind fanaticism.

Metaphorical use of 'rempart'.

Sa tolérance aux ambiguïtés linguistiques fait de lui un excellent traducteur.

His tolerance for linguistic ambiguities makes him an excellent translator.

Niche use of 'tolérance' in cognitive science.

Common Collocations

Faire preuve de tolérance

Tolérance zéro

Seuil de tolérance

Tolérance religieuse

Marge de tolérance

Esprit de tolérance

Tolérance mutuelle

Prôner la tolérance

Manquer de tolérance

Tolérance administrative

Common Phrases

Avec tolérance

— Doing something in a tolerant manner.

Il a écouté ses critiques avec tolérance.

Sans aucune tolérance

— Totally intolerant.

Il agit sans aucune tolérance.

Un appel à la tolérance

— A public request for people to be more accepting.

Le président a lancé un appel à la tolérance.

La limite de la tolérance

— The point where one stops being patient.

Nous avons atteint la limite de la tolérance.

Une leçon de tolérance

— An experience that teaches one to be more accepting.

Ce voyage fut une leçon de tolérance.

Tolérance envers autrui

— Tolerance toward others.

La tolérance envers autrui est une vertu.

Zone de tolérance

— A specific area where rules are relaxed.

Il y a une zone de tolérance pour le stationnement.

Degré de tolérance

— The amount of tolerance someone has.

Son degré de tolérance est très élevé.

Traité sur la tolérance

— Reference to Voltaire's famous work.

Avez-vous lu le Traité sur la tolérance ?

Valeur de tolérance

— Tolerance as a moral principle.

La tolérance est une valeur fondamentale.

Often Confused With

tolérance vs Acceptation

Acceptation is positive approval; tolérance is allowing something despite disagreement.

tolérance vs Indulgence

Indulgence is being easy on people's mistakes; tolérance is about rights and principles.

tolérance vs Patience

Patience is for waiting or enduring small annoyances; tolérance is for bigger social or physical concepts.

Idioms & Expressions

"Ma tolérance a des limites"

— I am about to lose my temper or stop being patient.

Attention, ma tolérance a des limites !

Neutral

"Prêcher la tolérance"

— To talk a lot about being tolerant (sometimes used ironically).

Il prêche la tolérance mais il est très sévère.

Neutral

"Zéro tolérance"

— Strict enforcement of rules with no exceptions.

C'est zéro tolérance pour la drogue ici.

Informal

"Dépasser les bornes de la tolérance"

— To go too far, beyond what can be accepted.

Son comportement dépasse les bornes de la tolérance.

Formal

"Mettre la tolérance à l'épreuve"

— To do something that makes it hard for others to stay patient.

Ses retards mettent ma tolérance à l'épreuve.

Neutral

"Vivre en bonne tolérance"

— To live in harmony despite differences.

Les deux voisins vivent en bonne tolérance.

Old-fashioned

"Avoir la tolérance facile"

— To be naturally very lenient or easy-going.

Il a la tolérance facile avec ses enfants.

Informal

"Une tolérance de façade"

— Appearing tolerant but not actually being so.

C'est juste une tolérance de façade.

Neutral

"S'armer de tolérance"

— To prepare oneself to be patient in a difficult situation.

Je m'arme de tolérance avant la réunion.

Literary

"La tolérance n'est pas une faiblesse"

— A common proverb defending the strength of character required for tolerance.

N'oubliez pas que la tolérance n'est pas une faiblesse.

Formal

Easily Confused

tolérance vs Tolérable

Often used interchangeably with 'acceptable'.

Tolérable means you can endure it; acceptable means it meets a standard.

Le bruit est tolérable, mais pas agréable.

tolérance vs Tolérant

The adjective form vs the noun.

Tolérant is the person; tolérance is the quality.

Un homme tolérant fait preuve de tolérance.

tolérance vs Résistance

In medical contexts.

Resistance is fighting off; tolerance is getting used to.

La tolérance à l'alcool augmente avec l'usage.

tolérance vs Souplesse

In professional contexts.

Souplesse is flexibility in rules; tolérance is more about allowing differences.

Il faut de la souplesse dans les horaires.

tolérance vs Permissivité

Negative nuance.

Permissivité implies being too weak or allowing bad things; tolérance is a virtue.

La permissivité des parents peut nuire à l'enfant.

Sentence Patterns

La [nom] est [adjectif].

La tolérance est bonne.

Il faut faire preuve de [nom].

Il faut faire preuve de tolérance.

Le [nom] à [quelque chose] est [adjectif].

Le seuil de tolérance à la chaleur est bas.

Prôner la [nom] envers [groupe].

Le ministre prône la tolérance envers les immigrés.

Une tolérance de fait, non de droit.

C'est une tolérance de fait dans ce quartier.

Mettre la [nom] à rude épreuve.

Cela met ma tolérance à rude épreuve.

L'impératif de [nom] se heurte à...

L'impératif de tolérance se heurte à la loi.

Ne saurait être une simple [nom].

La tolérance ne saurait être une simple politesse.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High (Top 2000 words in French news and literature).

Common Mistakes

Le tolérance → La tolérance
The word is feminine. This is the most basic and frequent error.
Tolérance pour les gens → Tolérance envers les gens
While 'pour' is understood, 'envers' is the correct preposition for social tolerance.
Il a tolérance → Il fait preuve de tolérance
In French, we use the expression 'faire preuve de' with abstract qualities.
Tolérance à la bruit → Tolérance au bruit
Bruit is masculine, so 'à le' becomes 'au'. Also, 'patience' might be better here.
Je tolérance ça → Je tolère ça
Don't confuse the noun 'tolérance' with the verb 'tolérer'.

Tips

Gender Check

Always remember 'la tolérance'. If you use an adjective like 'grand', it must be 'grande'.

Active Verb

Instead of saying 'avoir de la tolérance', try 'faire preuve de tolérance' to sound more like a native.

The Nasal End

Focus on the 'ance' sound. It's the same sound as in 'France' and 'danse'.

The Voltaire Link

Mentioning Voltaire when discussing tolerance will impress French speakers and show your cultural knowledge.

Medical vs Social

Be aware that 'tolérance' is the standard word for drug tolerance in medical French.

Essay Booster

Use 'prôner la tolérance' in your French exams to get higher marks for vocabulary.

News Keyword

Listen for this word during French election cycles; it is a very common 'buzzword'.

Don't Overuse

If you just mean 'being nice', use 'gentillesse' or 'patience' instead of 'tolérance'.

Engineering Tip

In a technical job, 'marge de tolérance' is the phrase you need for error margins.

Vivre-ensemble

Understand that 'tolérance' is a key part of the French concept of 'vivre-ensemble'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Tolerant Ant' (Tolér-ance) who doesn't mind when other bugs step on his hill.

Visual Association

Imagine a scale that is perfectly balanced despite having different objects on each side.

Word Web

Respect Patience Laïcité Voltaire Acceptation Diversité Paix Indulgence

Challenge

Try to use the phrase 'faire preuve de tolérance' in a conversation about your favorite movie or book today.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'tolerantia', which comes from the verb 'tolerare' meaning 'to bear, endure, or support'.

Original meaning: The original sense was physical: the ability to bear a heavy load or pain.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'tolérance' in debates about secularism; it is a sensitive and highly debated topic in modern France.

English speakers often use 'tolerance' more casually, whereas in French it carries a heavier philosophical and political weight.

Traité sur la tolérance by Voltaire UNESCO's Declaration of Principles on Tolerance The Edict of Nantes

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

School

Respecter les autres
Faire preuve de tolérance
Règlement intérieur
Vivre ensemble

Politics

Valeurs républicaines
Discours sur la tolérance
Laïcité
Liberté d'opinion

Medicine

Tolérance aux médicaments
Seuil de douleur
Réaction immunitaire
Effets secondaires

Engineering

Marge de tolérance
Précision de mesure
Tolérance de fabrication
Erreur acceptable

Personal Relationships

Manquer de patience
Être tolérant
Accepter les défauts
Avoir des limites

Conversation Starters

"Penses-tu que la tolérance est la valeur la plus importante de notre société actuelle ?"

"Est-ce que tu as une grande tolérance au bruit quand tu travailles chez toi ?"

"Où s'arrête ta tolérance selon toi ? Y a-t-il des choses intolérables ?"

"Comment peut-on enseigner la tolérance aux enfants de manière efficace ?"

"As-tu déjà lu le 'Traité sur la tolérance' de Voltaire ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez une situation où vous avez dû faire preuve d'une grande tolérance envers quelqu'un de difficile.

Que signifie pour vous l'expression 'tolérance zéro' ? Est-ce toujours une bonne politique ?

Réfléchissez à la différence entre tolérer quelqu'un et accepter quelqu'un. Laquelle est préférable ?

Comment la tolérance a-t-elle évolué dans votre pays au cours des dix dernières années ?

Écrivez sur une personne que vous admirez pour son esprit de tolérance et son ouverture d'esprit.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is feminine: la tolérance. This is a common point of error for English speakers.

The most common verb is 'faire preuve de' (to show/demonstrate). Example: 'Il fait preuve de tolérance'.

Yes, usually in technical contexts like 'les tolérances de fabrication' (manufacturing tolerances).

The direct opposite is 'intolérance'. Other opposites include 'sectarisme' or 'fanatisme'.

You say 'tolérance zéro'. It is used in legal, school, and professional contexts.

Sometimes, but 'patience' is usually for waiting, while 'tolérance' is for accepting differences or enduring substances.

Use 'envers' for people ('envers les autres') and 'à' for physical things ('à la douleur').

Voltaire, who wrote the 'Traité sur la tolérance' in the 18th century.

It is neutral to formal. It's used in everyday news but also in high philosophy.

Tolerance is allowing something you might dislike; respect is valuing something positively.