French word

falloir

Pronunciation

IPA/falwaʁ/

Meaning

  • verbhave to

Example

Il faut partir maintenant.

We have to leave now.

Illustration for falloir (have to)

More examples

Il faut que tu viennes demain.

It is necessary that you come tomorrow.

Core concept

An impersonal statement marks what circumstances require, whether the missing thing is an action or an object.

Common phrases

  • il faut + infinitif

    it is necessary to ___

  • il faut que + subjonctif

    it is necessary that ___

Similar words

devoir: Indicates that rules or responsibility require an action.
avoir besoin de: Indicates a need to obtain or do something that is lacking.
être obligé de: Indicates being forced to act by outside pressure or circumstances.
manquer: Indicates that a needed person or thing is lacking, causing a problem.

Definition in French

Exprime la nécessité; se construit surtout en « il faut » + infinitif, « il faut que » + subjonctif, ou « il faut » + nom.

Word origin

Old French faloir developed from Latin fallere through the sense of lacking or failing, giving modern French falloir its impersonal construction for stating what is necessary.

Usage tips

  • The conditional form il faudrait expresses a less direct requirement or suggestion than il faut, as in il faudrait partir maintenant.

Other meanings

  • be neededverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word