French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Brave" in French: courageux / courageuse
courageux / courageuse
Brave in French is courageux for masculine and courageuse for feminine. Tu es courageux praises someone. Brave exists in French but often means well-behaved for kids, so prefer courageux for brave.
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How to pronounce courageux / courageuse
Say it
koo-rah-ZHEU / koo-rah-ZHEUZ
/ku.ʁa.ʒø/ /ku.ʁa.ʒøz/
koo-rah-ZHEU / koo-rah-ZHEUZ. Soft g like measure; eu as in "blur."
"Brave" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| courageux / courageuse | brave / courageous Main pair with agreement. | Main pair with agreement. |
| avoir du courage | to have courage Noun pattern. | Noun pattern. |
| sois courageux / sois courageuse | be brave Encouragement. | Encouragement. |
| un acte courageux | a brave act Formal praise. | Formal praise. |
How to use courageux / courageuse in real life
- 1Before a talk
Tu es courageux de parler en public.
You're brave to speak in public.
Courageux masculine.
- 2At the dentist
Elle a été très courageuse.
She was very brave.
Courageuse feminine.
- 3Encouraging a child
Allez, sois courageux. Ça va bien se passer.
Come on, be brave. It'll go fine.
Sois courageux.
Mistakes English speakers make with courageux / courageuse
Incorrect: Elle est courageux.
Correct: Elle est courageuse.
Feminine form is courageuse.
Incorrect: Il est brave pour sauter.
Correct: Il est courageux de sauter.
For bravery, courageux is clearer than brave.
Good to know
English speakers often grab brave, but in French un brave garçon can mean a good kid. For fearlessness, courageux / courageuse is the safer everyday choice.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Trying a steep trail
ChatPal
Ce sentier fait peur. Tu te sens courageux ?
This trail is scary. Feeling brave?
You
Un peu. Toi, tu es courageux aujourd'hui.
A bit. You, you're brave today.
ChatPal
On y va ensemble. C'est plus courageux à deux.
Let's go together. It's braver as a pair.
You
D'accord. J'y vais.
Okay. I'm going.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Brave" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brave" in French
How do I say brave?
Courageux (m) / courageuse (f).
How do I say be brave?
Sois courageux / sois courageuse.
Is brave wrong?
It exists, but often means well-behaved; prefer courageux for bravery.
How do you pronounce courageux?
Koo-rah-ZHEU.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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