French word

certain

Pronunciation

IPA/sɛʁtɛ̃/

Meaning

  • pronounsome people

Example

Certains aiment le café.

Some people like coffee.

Illustration for certain (some people)

More examples

Certains sont déjà venus ici.

Some of them have already come here.

Core concept

An unspecified selection of people is separated from the rest of a group.

Common phrases

  • certains d'entre eux

    some of them

  • certains parmi nous

    some of us

  • certains de mes amis

    some of my friends

Similar words

quelques-uns: A few people or things, indicating a small number.
plusieurs: Several people or things considered as a group.
d'autres: Some other people or things from the group.

Definition in French

Signifie 'certaines personnes' ou 'quelques-uns', utilisé pour évoquer des membres non spécifiés d'un groupe.

Word origin

Inherited from Latin certus via Old French, certain extended from describing something definite or particular to functioning substantively as a plural pronoun.

Usage tips

  • French certains can be followed by de plus a noun when it means some of a larger set, as in certains de mes amis.

Other meanings

  • severalnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word