French word

raisonner

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁɛzone/

Meaning

  • verbthink logically

Example

Pour résoudre cette affaire, il faut raisonner calmement.

To solve this case, you need to think logically and calmly.

Illustration for raisonner (think logically)

More examples

Dans un débat, il faut raisonner par analogie pour convaincre les autres.

In a debate, you have to reason by analogy to convince others.

Core concept

A chain of facts and ideas arranged step by step until a logical conclusion appears.

Common phrases

  • raisonner logiquement

    reason logically

  • raisonner par analogie

    reason by analogy

  • raisonner à voix haute

    think aloud

Similar words

penser: To think about something.
réfléchir: To give a problem or situation careful thought over time.

Definition in French

Réfléchir de façon logique à des faits ou des idées pour en tirer des conclusions.

Word origin

Raisonner combines raison, from Latin rationem meaning 'calculation' or 'reason', with the productive French verb suffix -er.

Usage tips

  • The transitive pattern 'raisonner quelqu'un' means to persuade someone through reasoning, unlike the usual intransitive use for thinking logically.

Other meanings

  • reason with ___verb

Related words

Word lists with this word