J’aime, je n’aime pas / I Like, I Don’t Like

The verb aimer (to like/love) is one of the most common French verbs. French has a range of expressions from strong love to strong dislike.

French	IPA	English	Intensity
J’adore	[ʒa.dɔʁ]	I love	+++
J’aime beaucoup	[ʒɛm bo.ku]	I really like	++
J’aime	[ʒɛm]	I like	+
J’aime bien	[ʒɛm bjɛ̃]	I quite like	+/-
Je n’aime pas	[ʒə nɛm pa]	I don’t like	–
Je déteste	[ʒə de.tɛst]	I hate	– – –
Je préfère	[ʒə pʁe.fɛʁ]	I prefer	Comparison

Important: J’aime bien is actually weaker than j’aime!
Adding bien softens the statement.
For people: J’aime Marie = romantic love, J’aime bien Marie = I like her (as a friend).

What Can You Like/Dislike?

General things — use definite articles (le, la, les):

• J’aime le fromage. [ʒɛm lə fʁɔ.maʒ] — I like cheese.
• Je n’aime pas les araignées. [ʒə nɛm pa le.za.ʁɛ.ɲe] — I don’t like spiders.

Activities — use infinitive verbs:

• J’aime voyager. [ʒɛm vwa.ja.ʒe] — I like traveling.
• Je n’aime pas cuisiner. [ʒə nɛm pa kɥi.zi.ne] — I don’t like cooking.

Asking About Preferences

French	IPA	English
Tu aimes…?	[ty ɛm]	Do you like…? (informal)
Vous aimez…?	[vu.zɛ.me]	Do you like…? (formal)
Je préfère le thé au café.	[ʒə pʁe.fɛʁ lə te o ka.fe]	I prefer tea to coffee.

Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong	✓ Correct	Why
J’aime chocolat	J’aime le chocolat	Need definite article for general things
J’aime à voyager	J’aime voyager	No preposition before infinitive
J’aime Marie (friend)	J’aime bien Marie	J’aime implies romantic love

Practice Sentences

1. J’adore le chocolat, mais je n’aime pas les bonbons.
   [ʒa.dɔʁ lə ʃɔ.kɔ.la mɛ ʒə nɛm pa le bɔ̃.bɔ̃]
   I love chocolate, but I don’t like candy.
2. Tu aimes la musique française?
   [ty ɛm la my.zik fʁɑ̃.sɛz]
   Do you like French music?
3. Je préfère le thé au café.
   [ʒə pʁe.fɛʁ lə te o ka.fe]
   I prefer tea to coffee.
4. Elle aime beaucoup voyager.
   [ɛl ɛm bo.ku vwa.ja.ʒe]
   She really likes traveling.
5. Je déteste me lever tôt.
   [ʒə de.tɛst mə lə.ve to]
   I hate getting up early.

Exercise: Express Your Likes and Dislikes

Complete the sentences with the appropriate expression:

1. I love pizza. → _______ la pizza.
2. She doesn’t like coffee. → Elle _______ le café.
3. Do you like reading? (informal) → Tu _______ lire?
4. I prefer tea. → Je _______ le thé.
5. I quite like this movie. → J’_______ ce film.

Answers

1. J’adore [ʒa.dɔʁ] — I love
2. n’aime pas [nɛm pa] — doesn’t like
3. aimes [ɛm] — do you like
4. préfère [pʁe.fɛʁ] — prefer
5. aime bien [ɛm bjɛ̃] — quite like