French word

grand-chose

Pronunciation

IPA/gʁɑ̃ʃoz/

Meaning

  • pronounmuch

Example

Il n'y a pas grand-chose à voir ici.

There isn't much to see here.

Illustration for grand-chose (much)

More examples

Je n'ai pas grand-chose à dire.

I don't have much to say.

Core concept

A nearly bare scene or container with little of substance to notice.

Common phrases

  • pas grand-chose

    not much

  • il n'y a pas grand-chose

    There isn't much

Similar words

rien: The absence of anything at all.
quelque chose: An unspecified object, matter, or event.
autre chose: A separate object, matter, or event.

Definition in French

Expression pronominale, employée surtout après une négation pour indiquer qu'il y a peu de choses ou rien d'important.

Word origin

The expression comes from Old French grant chose, literally "great thing," and its negative use developed the weakened sense of "much of anything."

Usage tips

  • Grand-chose is an invariable pronoun, commonly used after pas in the pattern ne ... pas grand-chose à plus an infinitive.

Word lists with this word