Em 15 segundos
- Go easy or take it slow.
- Derived from the word for 'soft'.
- Perfect for advice among friends.
Significado
It means to take it easy, go slow, or be gentle with something. It is the opposite of rushing or being aggressive.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Pouring a drink for a friend
Vas-y mollo sur le vin, je dois conduire après !
Go easy on the wine, I have to drive later!
Starting a new gym routine
C'est ta première séance, vas-y mollo.
It's your first session, take it easy.
A boss speaking to a stressed team
On va y aller mollo ce matin, l'équipe est fatiguée.
We're going to take it slow this morning, the team is tired.
Contexto cultural
The French value 'le juste milieu' (the happy medium). 'Y aller mollo' is a way to maintain social harmony by discouraging extreme behavior. In Quebec, while 'mollo' is understood, people are more likely to say 'Prends ça relax' or 'Vas-y doucement'. In the south, the pace of life is naturally more 'mollo'. The phrase is used frequently to reinforce the local identity of taking time to enjoy life. Younger generations might replace 'mollo' with 'tranquille' (often shortened to 'trankil') to sound more modern.
The 'Sur' Rule
Always use 'sur' when talking about food or money: 'mollo sur le sel', 'mollo sur les dépenses'.
Register Check
Never use 'mollo' with a judge, a doctor (in a formal consult), or your boss's boss.
Em 15 segundos
- Go easy or take it slow.
- Derived from the word for 'soft'.
- Perfect for advice among friends.
What It Means
Y aller mollo is all about moderation. It means you should slow down. Think of it as 'taking it easy' or 'going easy' on something. If you are pouring wine, go mollo. If you are starting a new workout, go mollo. It is the art of not overdoing it. It is about being gentle and cautious.
How To Use It
You use it like a verb phrase. The y is fixed. You conjugate aller normally. You can say vas-y mollo to a friend. Or on va y aller mollo for a group. It works for physical actions. It also works for emotional reactions. It is very versatile in daily life.
When To Use It
Use it when someone is being too intense. Use it at a dinner party with the salt. Tell your friend to go mollo on the accelerator. It is perfect for advice. It works well when you want to avoid a mess. It is great for pacing yourself during a long day.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in a formal business contract. Avoid it with your boss during a performance review. It is too relaxed for very serious crises. If someone is in actual danger, use attention. Mollo is too 'chill' for life-or-death moments. It sounds a bit too playful for mourning.
Cultural Background
The word mollo comes from mou, meaning soft. It appeared in the late 19th century. It reflects the French love for 'la mesure'. Balance is everything in French culture. Not too much, not too little. It is the linguistic version of a slow Sunday brunch.
Common Variations
You might hear vas-y doucement. That is the more standard version. Some people say mollo mollo for extra emphasis. In slang, you might hear tranquille. But mollo remains the classic choice for 'easy does it'. It has a lovely, rhythmic sound to it.
Notas de uso
This phrase is firmly in the informal register. It's perfect for friends, family, and casual colleagues, but avoid it in high-stakes professional writing.
The 'Sur' Rule
Always use 'sur' when talking about food or money: 'mollo sur le sel', 'mollo sur les dépenses'.
Register Check
Never use 'mollo' with a judge, a doctor (in a formal consult), or your boss's boss.
The Negative Flip
Use it in the negative to describe someone who was very blunt: 'Il n'y est pas allé mollo !' (He really went for it / He was harsh).
Exemplos
6Vas-y mollo sur le vin, je dois conduire après !
Go easy on the wine, I have to drive later!
Commonly used for quantities of food or drink.
C'est ta première séance, vas-y mollo.
It's your first session, take it easy.
Used to suggest physical caution.
On va y aller mollo ce matin, l'équipe est fatiguée.
We're going to take it slow this morning, the team is tired.
Softens the professional atmosphere.
Vas-y mollo avec les textos, ne lui fais pas peur !
Go easy with the texts, don't scare him off!
Used for social behavior advice.
Hé, vas-y mollo ! Pas besoin de crier.
Hey, take it down a notch! No need to shout.
Used to de-escalate a situation.
Il est triste, alors vas-y mollo quand tu lui parleras.
He is sad, so go easy when you talk to him.
Shows emotional consideration.
Teste-se
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Tu conduis trop vite ! ______ mollo, s'il te plaît !
In the imperative singular, we use 'Vas-y' (with an 's' for sound).
Which preposition is used to specify what to go easy on?
Vas-y mollo ___ le piment.
We use 'sur' to indicate the object of moderation.
Match the situation to the correct advice.
Situation: Your friend is very angry and about to yell at his brother.
This situation requires interpersonal sensitivity.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Je vais finir ce projet en une seule nuit ! B: ________, tu vas faire un burn-out.
The speaker is warning against overworking.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Where to use 'Y aller mollo'
Physical
- • Driving
- • Sports
- • Moving furniture
Consumption
- • Alcohol
- • Sugar/Salt
- • Spending
Social
- • Criticism
- • Bad news
- • Debates
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosTu conduis trop vite ! ______ mollo, s'il te plaît !
In the imperative singular, we use 'Vas-y' (with an 's' for sound).
Vas-y mollo ___ le piment.
We use 'sur' to indicate the object of moderation.
Situation: Your friend is very angry and about to yell at his brother.
This situation requires interpersonal sensitivity.
A: Je vais finir ce projet en une seule nuit ! B: ________, tu vas faire un burn-out.
The speaker is warning against overworking.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt is a real slang word recognized by dictionaries, but it is not used in formal writing.
No, you must include the 'y': 'Allez-y mollo'.
No, it is an adverb and is always invariable.
Not between friends, but it is too casual for formal settings.
The opposite is 'y aller à fond' or 'y aller fort'.
Yes, it's very common to tell a driver 'Vas-y mollo'.
Only in dialogue to show a character's casual way of speaking.
It shares a root with Italian 'molle', but the word 'mollo' itself is a French slang creation.
Yes, 'Vas-y mollo avec lui' means 'Be gentle with his feelings'.
It started in Paris but is now used all over the French-speaking world.
Frases relacionadas
y aller doucement
synonymTo go slowly/gently
lever le pied
similarTo slow down (literally 'lift the foot')
y aller avec des pincettes
specialized formTo be extremely careful with a topic
mettre la pédale douce
similarTo tone it down
foncer tête baissée
contrastTo rush in without thinking
