What does vrai in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word vrai in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use vrai in French.

The word vrai in French means true, genuine, real, authentic, true, real, honest, true, truthfully, honestly, truth, the truth, in truth, to tell the truth, in fact, to tell the truth, to be honest, it's really true, It's too good to be true, real name, separate fact and fiction, tell fact from fiction, distinguish between reality and fantasy, for real, really, actually, be right, be convincing, look real, it is true, that is true, it is true + [indicative], it is true that + [indicative], that's what really matters, there's nothing like it, there is some truth in, unbelievable but true, solar day, show your true colors, doum palm, doom palm, larger than life, better than the real thing, for real, tell a lie to get at the truth, real name. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word vrai

true

adjectif (conforme à la réalité)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Tout ce qu'il dit est vrai.
Everything he says is true.

genuine, real, authentic, true

adjectif (authentique)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est une vraie blonde. Plutôt que d’essayer de traduire moi-même ce texte de néerlandais, je préfère faire appel à un vrai traducteur.
She's a genuine blonde. Rather than trying to translate this Dutch text myself, I'd prefer to give it to a real translator.

real, honest, true

adjectif (important, déterminant)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il ne dit pas la vraie raison de son acte.
He isn't giving the true reason for his action.

truthfully, honestly

adverbe (avec sincérité)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ecoute-le, il dit vrai.
Listen to him; he is speaking truthfully.

truth, the truth

nom masculin (la vérité)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut distinguer le vrai du faux. Quand tu dis ça, tu es dans le vrai.
You need to be able to tell the difference between truth and lies.

in truth, to tell the truth, in fact

locution adverbiale (en fait)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

to tell the truth, to be honest

(pour être franc)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je ne l'apprécie pas beaucoup à vrai dire.
I do not appreciate it very much to tell the truth.

it's really true

(exactement, tout à fait) (colloquial)

It's too good to be true

(c'est peu vraisemblable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

real name

(officiellement appelé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
David Bowie, de son vrai nom David Robert Jones, est né en 1947.
David Bowie, born David Robert Jones in 1947, became famous in the late 1960s.

separate fact and fiction

locution verbale (faire la part des informations) (colloquial)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

tell fact from fiction

locution verbale (faire la part des informations)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

distinguish between reality and fantasy

locution verbale (faire la part des informations)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

for real

locution adverbiale (dans la vraie vie, en face)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Je n'ai encore jamais vu de député en vrai.
I have never seen an MP in real life before.

really, actually

locution adverbiale (familier (en réalité, en fait)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Je me moque souvent de mon beau-frère, mais en vrai, il est sympa.

be right

locution verbale (avoir raison)

Quand tu dis ça, tu es dans le vrai.

be convincing

locution verbale (sembler vrai)

Cette composition fait vrai mais ses fleurs sont artificielles.

look real

locution verbale (imiter [qch] de vrai)

Ces pierres de parement font vrai mais c'est du placage.

it is true, that is true

locution adverbiale (certes)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it is true + [indicative], it is true that + [indicative]

(on peut certes)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

that's what really matters

(c'est ça qui est intéressant)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le fromage au lait cru, il n'y a que cela de vrai !

there's nothing like it

(c'est le meilleur) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le brie de Melun de chez Loiseau, il n'y a que ça de vrai!

there is some truth in

(tout n'est pas faux)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il y a du vrai dans ce que dit le surveillant, la bagarre n'est pas venue d'un seul élève !

unbelievable but true

locution adjectivale (à peine croyable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

solar day

nom masculin (durée de rotation apparente du soleil) (countable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

show your true colors

locution verbale (dévoiler sa personnalité) (US)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lors du partage des biens du défunt, chacun à montré son vrai visage.

doum palm, doom palm

nom masculin (palmier doum d'Égypte) (tree)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

larger than life, better than the real thing

locution adjectivale (figuré (très bien imité)

for real

locution adverbiale (réellement, vraiment)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

tell a lie to get at the truth

locution verbale (chercher la vérité en mentant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

real name

nom masculin (nom d'État civil)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Elvis Presley était bien son vrai nom.

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of vrai in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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