Aimer in French looks simple. And in many ways, it is.
It’s one of the very first verbs English speakers learn when studying French.
But it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Why? Because French uses one verb where English uses two.
Where English clearly separates to like and to love, French relies on context, tone, and small words to express nuance.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- what aimer really means in French
- when it means like and when it means love
- why it’s grammatically easy but culturally sensitive
- how to use it naturally in real life, without awkward moments
- What does aimer mean in French?
- Aimer in French: like or love?
- The good news: aimer is actually easy
- Learn French With an Experienced Language Coach
- Aimer verb chart (present tense)
- The verb aimer: mp3 audio recording & pronunciation
- Using aimer in real-life contexts
- Aimer bien: how to say “like” safely
- Adorer: stronger than like, lighter than love
- Je t’aime, je vous aime: mind the pronouns
- What do you answer when someone says je t’aime?
- Aimer in French pop culture
- French words recap & exercise
What does aimer mean in French?
The verb aimer can mean to like, to enjoy, or to love.
The meaning depends entirely on what comes after the verb.
Very often, aimer is followed by a masculine or feminine article (le, la, les), especially when talking about daily life in France.
Aimer + article + thing / place / habit = like or enjoy
This is how expats use aimer all the time.
- J’aime le café → jèm le ca-fé → I like coffee
- J’aime la France → jèm la frans → I like France
- J’aime le marché du samedi → jèm le mar-ché du sa-me-di → I enjoy the Saturday market
- J’aime la vie ici → jèm la vi i-si → I like life here
- J’aime les petits villages → jèm lé pe-ti vi-la-j → I like small villages
In all these examples, aimer expresses preference or enjoyment, not romantic love.
This is neutral, everyday French.
But now, compare with this:
- Je t’aime → je tèm → I love you
Same verb. No article. A person instead of a thing.
And suddenly, the meaning shifts completely.
In French, aimer followed by a direct object pronoun referring to a person (te, vous, le, la) almost always means to love, not just to like.
That’s why understanding what comes after the verb is as important as the verb itself.
Aimer in French: like or love?
Here is the rule that clears up most confusion.
Aimer + a thing, place, or activity = like
J’aime le vin → I like wine → jèm le vin
- J’aime voyager → I like traveling → jèm vwa-ya-jé
- J’aime vivre ici → I like living here → jèm vi-vr i-si
Aimer + a person (with no modifier) = love
- Je t’aime → I love you → je tèm
- Je l’aime → I love him / her → je lèm
That’s why saying j’aime Paul can sound very strong in French.
Romantic. Emotional. Sometimes unexpected. We don’t say it as often as Americans say “I love you”. It’s very intimate and deep. Use it carefully.
The good news: aimer is actually easy
Here’s the reassuring part for learners.
Aimer is an -ER verb, and ER verbs are regular in French.
That means the grammar is simple and predictable.
If you can conjugate aimer, you can also conjugate:
- parler (to speak)
- travailler (to work)
- habiter (to live)
The difficulty with aimer is not grammar.
It’s meaning and usage.
Aimer verb chart (present tense)
This is the one tense you really need at first. Petit à petit (step by step)!
| Subject | Conjugation | Pronunciation à l’oreille |
|---|---|---|
| je | j’aime | jèm |
| tu | tu aimes | tu èm |
| il / elle | il aime | il èm |
| nous | nous aimons | nou zè-mon |
| vous | vous aimez | vou zè-mé |
| ils / elles | ils aiment | il zèm |
Regular endings. No surprises.
The verb aimer: mp3 audio recording & pronunciation
Using aimer in real-life contexts
Talking about preferences
- J’aime le vin français jèm le vin fran-sè
- Nous aimons marcher le matin nou zè-mon mar-ché le ma-tin
- Ils aiment vivre en France il zèm vi-vr an frans
Here, aimer clearly means to like.
Aimer bien: how to say “like” safely
French has a built-in safety net: aimer bien.
Aimer bien always means “to like”, never “to love”.
- Je t’aime bien → je tèm bi-èn → I like you (friendly, no romantic pressure)
- J’aime bien mes voisins → jèm bi-èn mé vwa-zin → I like my neighbors.
If you’re unsure, aimer bien avoids misunderstandings.
ear declarations.
Adorer: stronger than like, lighter than love
Adorer means to really like / to adore.
- J’adore cette ville → ja-dor set vil
- Je t’adore → je ta-dor
- Very common and very French. It’s actually often preferred to je t’aime in daily life. We use it for friends, family.
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Je t’aime, je vous aime: mind the pronouns
Pronouns matter in French.
- Je t’aime → I love you (one person, informal)
- Je vous aime → I love you (formal or plural)
- Je les aime → I love them
A small word can completely change the meaning.
What do you answer when someone says je t’aime?
This moment matters in French culture.
Common answers:
- Moi aussi → mwa o-si → Me too
- Moi non plus → mwa non plu → Me neither
- Merci → mer-si → Thank you
Yes, merci is grammatically possible, but in real life it’s awkward. Answering merci after je t’aime usually sounds distant or uncomfortable, and it’s often understood as a polite refusal rather than a loving response. It often signals emotional distance.
Aimer in French pop culture
You’ve probably heard aimer even if you didn’t realize it.
One of the most famous French songs ever is Je t’aime… moi non plus, by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin.
The title means: I love you… me neither.
Confusing. Iconic. Very French.
You’ll also hear je t’aime often in French films, but usually:
- said quietly
- without exaggeration
- not repeated lightly
French culture values restraint. Aimer reflects that.
For more real-life, film-inspired ways to express affection in French, you can also read this other article I wrote.
French words recap & exercise
| French word or expression | Meaning | Prononciation à l’oreille | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| aimer | to like / to love | è-mé | Verbe général. Le sens dépend du contexte et de ce qui suit |
| aimer bien | to like | è-mé bi-èn | Pour exprimer une appréciation sans ambiguïté affective |
| adorer | to adore / to really like | a-do-ré | Plus fort que aimer bien, mais plus léger que aimer avec une personne |
| je t’aime | I love you | je tèm | À une personne, registre intime |
| je vous aime | I love you (formal or plural) | je vou zèm | À une personne avec distance ou à plusieurs personnes |
| moi aussi | me too | mwa o-si | Réponse positive à je t’aime ou à une préférence |
| moi non plus | me neither | mwa non plu | Réponse négative, souvent très claire |
Listen and repeat after me:
Complete the sentences with aimer, aimer bien, or adorer. Use the context to choose the most natural option.
- J’_____ le vin français, surtout en Provence.
- Nous _____ vivre ici depuis notre retraite.
- Je _____ bien mes voisins, ils sont très sympas.
- Tu _____ voyager en France ou à l’étranger ?
- Je t’_____ beaucoup, mais je ne suis pas encore prêt à dire je t’aime.
- Ils _____ les marchés locaux et les petits villages.
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