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# être — French to English

How French *être* is translated into English in open, checked parallel texts: 7 translations with example sentences.

The Elamur Dictionary has no French section yet; the English translations below link to their meanings where it has them.

Sentence pairs counted, by form: être (2 024 342), êtres (48 252). By style: everyday 8 821 · literary 441 · biblical 529 · parliamentary 162 327 · legal and administrative 347 058 · UN documents 1 553 418.

## be

Used about 836 284 times in the texts (everyday ≈ 2 757 · literary ≈ 167 · biblical ≈ 216 · parliamentary ≈ 59 182 · legal and administrative ≈ 159 068 · UN documents ≈ 614 895). Meaning: [be in the Elamur Dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/be/).

- Que veux-tu **être** ?
  What do you want to **be**?
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by sacredceltic and CK · checked, community translation · [\#16263](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/16263) [\#468678](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/468678))

- --Vous avez voulu **être** madame.
  “You wished to **be** Madame.
  ([Project Gutenberg books (Verne, Hugo, Maupassant and their translators)](https://www.gutenberg.org/) · Project Gutenberg, public domain · checked, professional translation · hugo les miserables, row 30899)

- Se vantant d’**être** sages, ils sont devenus fous;
  Professing themselves to **be** wise, they became fools,
  ([World English Bible and Louis Segond 1910](https://ebible.org/) · World English Bible; Louis Segond 1910; public domain, eBible.org · checked, professional translation · ROM 1:22)

- Il faut **être** très clair là-dessus.
  We need to **be** very clear on that.
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 1579961)

- Le code figurant dans l'appendice D2 doit **être** utilisé.
  The code presented in Appendix D2 shall **be** used.
  ([DGT-TM v2021](https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/language-technology-resources/dgt-translation-memory_en) · Source: European Commission, DGT-TM (Steinberger et al. 2012), re-used under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU; the Commission keeps ownership of the data · checked, professional translation · segment 3951330)

## trafficking

Used about 492 207 times in the texts (parliamentary ≈ 6 764 · UN documents ≈ 485 443).

- De nombreuses victimes de la traite d'**êtres** humains ne parlent pas chinois et sont donc virtuellement prisonnières.
  Many victims of **trafficking** are unable to speak Chinese and are held as virtual prisoners.
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 1406044)

- B. Traite des **êtres** humains
  B. Human **trafficking**/people smuggling
  ([United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0](https://conferences.unite.un.org/UNCorpus) · Source: United Nations, United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0 (Ziemski, Junczys-Dowmunt and Pouliquen 2016) · checked, professional translation · segment 24051942)

- Je soutiens les actions proposées pour faciliter les changements, surtout dans le domaine de la traite des **êtres** humains et de la violence domestique.
  I support the actions proposed to facilitate changes, especially in the area of **trafficking** and domestic violence.
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 773027)

- e) La loi relative à la traite des **êtres** humains de 2004.
  (e) The Human **Trafficking** Act, 2004.
  ([United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0](https://conferences.unite.un.org/UNCorpus) · Source: United Nations, United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0 (Ziemski, Junczys-Dowmunt and Pouliquen 2016) · checked, professional translation · segment 26055544)

- Je demanderais aux autorités compétentes d'**être** plus proactives dans la lutte contre la corruption, le crime organisé et le trafic d'**êtres** humains, d'armes et de stupéfiants.
  I would ask the competent authorities to be more proactive in the fight against corruption, organised crime and the **trafficking** of people, arms and drugs.
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 1011763)

## human

Used about 449 472 times in the texts (everyday ≈ 827 · literary ≈ 6 · parliamentary ≈ 55 800 · legal and administrative ≈ 166 299 · UN documents ≈ 226 540). Forms: human, humans. Meaning: [human in the Elamur Dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/human/).

- Pourquoi les **êtres** humains rient-ils ?
  Why do **humans** laugh?
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by menaud and Adelpa · checked, community translation · [\#13200066](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/13200066) [\#13200331](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/13200331))

- La malheureuse Esmeralda laissa retomber sa tête sous ses cheveux, comprenant qu'elle n'avait pas affaire à un **être** humain.
  The unhappy Esmeralda dropped her head beneath her flowing hair, comprehending that it was no **human** being she had to deal with.
  ([Project Gutenberg books (Verne, Hugo, Maupassant and their translators)](https://www.gutenberg.org/) · Project Gutenberg, public domain · checked, professional translation · hugo notre dame, row 8379)

- Ce sont les **êtres** humains qui se le sont octroyés eux-mêmes.
  **Humans** have granted it to themselves.
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 1170906)

- Traite des **êtres** humains
  Trafficking in **human** beings
  ([DGT-TM v2021](https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/language-technology-resources/dgt-translation-memory_en) · Source: European Commission, DGT-TM (Steinberger et al. 2012), re-used under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU; the Commission keeps ownership of the data · checked, professional translation · segment 283955)

- a) Le droit au travail en tant que droit inaliénable de tous les **êtres** humains;
  (a) The right to work as an inalienable right of all **human** beings;
  ([United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0](https://conferences.unite.un.org/UNCorpus) · Source: United Nations, United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0 (Ziemski, Junczys-Dowmunt and Pouliquen 2016) · checked, professional translation · segment 16946882)

## must

Used about 23 276 times in the texts (everyday ≈ 92 · literary ≈ 6 · parliamentary ≈ 3 382 · legal and administrative ≈ 3 615 · UN documents ≈ 16 181). Meaning: [must in the Elamur Dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/must/).

- La mère de Tom a dû **être** très déçue.
  Tom's mother **must**'ve been very disappointed.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by GB3 and CK · checked, community translation · [\#6876013](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/6876013) [\#6876216](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/6876216))

- --Et vous, monsieur le vétéran, vous avez dû **être** souvent blessé?
  “And you, Mr. Veteran, you **must** have been often wounded?”
  ([Project Gutenberg books (Verne, Hugo, Maupassant and their translators)](https://www.gutenberg.org/) · Project Gutenberg, public domain · checked, professional translation · hugo les miserables, row 23359)

- Je terminerai en répétant et en insistant sur le fait que nous devons **être** à l' écoute des attentes des citoyens européens !
  Let me conclude by repeating and emphasising that we **must** listen to what the people of Europe expect of us!
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 38980)

- La courbe de décélération à une hauteur de chute de 254 mm doit **être** comprise entre 1,2 ms et 1,5 ms au-dessus de 100 g.
  The deceleration curve of the drop height of 254 mm **must** run at least 1,2 ms and at most 1.5 ms over 100 g.
  ([DGT-TM v2021](https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/language-technology-resources/dgt-translation-memory_en) · Source: European Commission, DGT-TM (Steinberger et al. 2012), re-used under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU; the Commission keeps ownership of the data · checked, professional translation · segment 5474271)

- Nous ne devons épargner aucun effort pour éviter de nouveaux revers dans le processus du TNP, ce qui pourrait **être** fatal au régime du TNP.
  We **must** do all we can to avoid any further setbacks in the NPT process that could prove fatal to the NPT regime.
  ([United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0](https://conferences.unite.un.org/UNCorpus) · Source: United Nations, United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0 (Ziemski, Junczys-Dowmunt and Pouliquen 2016) · checked, professional translation · segment 16599667)

## may

Used about 16 380 times in the texts (everyday ≈ 184 · biblical ≈ 15 · UN documents ≈ 16 181). Meaning: [may in the Elamur Dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/may/).

- Il viendra peut-**être** aujourd'hui.
  He **may** come today.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by Delapouite and CK · checked, community translation · [\#296622](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/296622) [\#1398714](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/1398714))

- Il m’est bon d’**être** humilié, Afin que j’apprenne tes statuts.
  It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I **may** learn your statutes.
  ([World English Bible and Louis Segond 1910](https://ebible.org/) · World English Bible; Louis Segond 1910; public domain, eBible.org · checked, professional translation · PSA 119:71)

- a) on peut penser que les parents biologiques de l &apos; enfant risquent de lui **être** préjudiciables ;
  (a) There are indications that the child &apos; s biological parents **may** harm him;
  ([United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0](https://conferences.unite.un.org/UNCorpus) · Source: United Nations, United Nations Parallel Corpus v1.0 (Ziemski, Junczys-Dowmunt and Pouliquen 2016) · checked, professional translation · segment 9122785)

- Peut-**être** lui est-il arrivé quelque chose.
  Something **may** have happened to him.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by sacredceltic and CK · checked, community translation · [\#25175](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/25175) [\#2977262](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/2977262))

- Approchons-nous donc avec assurance du trône de la grâce, afin d’obtenir miséricorde et de trouver grâce, pour **être** secourus dans nos besoins.
  Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we **may** receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.
  ([World English Bible and Louis Segond 1910](https://ebible.org/) · World English Bible; Louis Segond 1910; public domain, eBible.org · checked, professional translation · HEB 4:16)

## beings

Used about 4 285 times in the texts (everyday ≈ 2 481 · literary ≈ 113 · parliamentary ≈ 1 691).

- Pourquoi les **êtres** humains rient-ils ?
  Why do human **beings** laugh?
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by menaud and menaud · checked, community translation · [\#13200338](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/13200338) [\#13200331](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/13200331))

- Tels étaient ces deux **êtres**.
  Such were these two **beings**.
  ([Project Gutenberg books (Verne, Hugo, Maupassant and their translators)](https://www.gutenberg.org/) · Project Gutenberg, public domain · checked, professional translation · hugo les miserables, row 8137)

- Les animaux sont des **êtres** vivants et il convient évidemment de les traiter comme tels.
  Animals are living **beings** and must, of course, be treated as such.
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 636474)

- Tous les **êtres** humains sont mortels.
  All human **beings** are mortal.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by Elliv and CM · checked, community translation · [\#51711](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/51711) [\#11913](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/11913))

- Il y a d'autres **êtres** auxquels il faut penser.
  There are other **beings** of whom you must think.
  ([Project Gutenberg books (Verne, Hugo, Maupassant and their translators)](https://www.gutenberg.org/) · Project Gutenberg, public domain · checked, professional translation · hugo les miserables, row 25683)

## can

Used about 1 783 times in the texts (everyday ≈ 92 · parliamentary ≈ 1 691). Meaning: [can in the Elamur Dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/can/).

- Qu'apprendre d'un chien ? Que lorsque les **êtres** aimés arrivent à la maison, il faut toujours courir les accueillir.
  What **can** we learn from a dog? When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by sacredceltic and al\_ex\_an\_der · checked, community translation · [\#1242567](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/1242567) [\#1242577](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/1242577))

- Un accueil des réfugiés dans des conditions correctes doit absolument **être** possible, sinon ce sont les collectivités locales qui sont interpellées alors qu'elles ne peuvent plus faire face.
  We need proper refugee centres, otherwise it is all down to the local authorities and they **can** no longer cope.
  ([Europarl v8](https://www.statmt.org/europarl/) · Source: European Parliament proceedings, Europarl v8 (Koehn 2005) via OPUS (Tiedemann 2012) · checked, professional translation · segment 316401)

## More sentences

Sentence pairs with the word where no single translation was found: it may be translated by a phrase, or left out.

- Ceci peut peut-**être** vous intéresser.
  This might interest you.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by sacredceltic and belgavox · checked, community translation · [\#1728527](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/1728527) [\#1350183](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/1350183))

- Ce plan est loin d'**être** parfait, mais c'est le meilleur qu'on a.
  This plan is far from perfect, but it's the best plan we have.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by vlecomte and CK · checked, community translation · [\#6947270](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/6947270) [\#6949130](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/6949130))

- Faisons semblant d'**être** des ninjas.
  Let's make believe we're ninjas.
  ([Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/) · Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR · sentences by mayliu and pip · checked, community translation · [\#281973](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/281973) [\#822874](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/822874))

## Grammar

Notes on grammar and translation on Mova: [French grammar](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/fr/) · [English grammar](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/en/) · [translating between English and French](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/translation/pairs/en-fr/) · [translating from French](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/translation/from-fr/) · [translating into English](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/translation/into-en/).

## About these examples

Translations are found by how often the two words stand in the same sentence pairs, and the highlighted words are matched automatically: both are approximate. Counts are estimated from a sample of each source. Every example names its source and licence. [Submit a better translation or example](https://md.translate.elamur.ai/free/en/submit/?pair=fr-en&word=%C3%AAtre).


Every example is quoted under its source's licence and credited with it; the rest of the site is open under the Elamur Cosmic License.